The government has unveiled a new youth empowerment initiative dubbed the NYOTA Programme, which will see young mothers receive maternity support of up to Ksh16,000. The scheme is part of a broader five-year plan designed to uplift more than 820,000 jobless youth across the country by improving employment prospects, promoting savings, and fostering entrepreneurship.
Co-funded by the World Bank, the NYOTA programme targets youth aged 18 to 29 years, including refugees in gazetted camps in Garissa and Turkana counties. For persons with disabilities, the upper age limit extends to 35 years. Eligible applicants must not have a college or university education, should not be employed under the Climate WorX Programme or Kenya Youth Employment and Opportunities Project (KYEOP), and must be available for the six-month duration of the programme.
Once enrolled, participants are automatically registered in the Haba Haba savings scheme managed by the National Social Security Fund (NSSF). Monthly savings are deducted during the programme period to instill a culture of consistent saving. To encourage participation, the government will match double the savings made by a youth—up to a maximum bonus of Ksh3,000—if they save continuously for six months.
For women, NYOTA includes a maternity benefit to promote financial stability during childbirth. A woman who saves at least Ksh400 monthly for four months (Ksh1,600 total) qualifies to receive Ksh4,000 per month for four months, totaling Ksh16,000.
Additionally, 90,000 youth will gain hands-on work experience through placements, while 100,000 youth—70 from each ward—will receive Ksh50,000 start-up capital to launch new businesses. Over 600,000 others will undergo Access to Government Procurement Opportunities (AGPO) training to help them win public tenders.
Applications are open until October 12 and are processed digitally. Interested applicants can apply by dialing *254#, selecting NYOTA, and completing the required details. However, Hustler Fund defaulters will be excluded from the programme.
