The government is set to roll out the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) Project later this month, in a bold step to address rising youth unemployment in Kenya. The initiative seeks to dismantle barriers to employment while unlocking the economic potential of the country’s young population.
Through the project, youth will receive training in practical skills, financial literacy, and digital inclusion, enabling them to access credit, manage their finances effectively, and embrace mobile banking tools for socio-economic growth.
Targeting youth aged 18–29, the program will primarily benefit fresh graduates and students in higher learning institutions, with the age cap extended to 35 years for persons with disabilities. One of the project’s unique features is its direct support to young entrepreneurs through seed capital of Ksh 50,000 to start small businesses, coupled with structured follow-up to ensure long-term growth and sustainability.
“The NYOTA Project is not about one-off funding; it is about building long-term capacity,” said Henry Rithaa, CEO of the Micro and Small Enterprise Authority (MSEA). “With mentorship, monitoring, and market linkages, we aim to cultivate a new generation of thriving youth-led enterprises.”
The initiative is spearheaded by the State Department of Youth Affairs and Creative Economy, with support from the Ministries of MSMEs Development, Labour and Social Protection, and other government agencies. Its focus is on fostering economic inclusion, particularly for marginalized groups such as youth in informal settlements, rural areas, and those living with disabilities.
Unlike past programs, NYOTA will place strong emphasis on monitoring and evaluation, using data-driven assessments to track progress, impact, and areas for improvement. According to Rithaa, this approach will help refine government strategies for youth empowerment to achieve tangible results.
Labour and Social Protection Cabinet Secretary Dr. Alfred Mutua noted that the project is the result of collaborative planning with fellow Cabinet Secretaries Wycliffe Oparanya (MSMEs) and Salim Mvurya (Youth Affairs and Creative Economy).
With its official launch just weeks away, anticipation is growing among young Kenyans, as the NYOTA Project promises to open new doors to entrepreneurship, job creation, and economic empowerment—offering hope in the fight against youth unemployment.
