The government has announced a nationwide physical validation exercise for all applicants of the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) Fund, aimed at confirming the authenticity and eligibility of beneficiaries.
According to Cooperatives and MSMEs Development Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya, the validation will take place on Friday, October 24, 2025, across all 290 constituency headquarters in Kenya. The exercise is part of the final screening process before the release of funds under the NYOTA programme.
“The process will verify key details such as residency, education level, employment status, gender distribution, and disability, while also confirming that applicants are available to participate fully throughout the project cycle,” Oparanya said in an official notice.
He stressed that only those who attend the exercise in person will be considered for final selection. “Only applicants who present themselves physically for validation will be deemed responsive and eligible. There will be no repeat exercise thereafter,” he added.
Oparanya noted that the validation exercise will be led by Principal Secretaries, supported by elected leaders, National Government Administrative Officers (NGAOs), and the NYOTA Project Implementation Team, adopting what he described as a “Whole-of-Government approach.”
Each constituency will have one or more validation centres, with ward-based breakout stations to ensure transparency and efficiency. Applicants are required to carry their National Identity Cards, while Persons with Disabilities must also present their disability identification cards for authentication.
The government further clarified that the Entrepreneurship Aptitude Test (EAT) remains a mandatory requirement for those seeking entry into the Business Support Component of the NYOTA Fund.
The NYOTA Fund aims to empower young people through financial support, skills development, and entrepreneurship opportunities, promoting job creation and sustainable livelihoods across the country.
