Principal Secretary for Parliamentary Affairs Aurelia Rono has called on county governments, local leaders, and private partners to work together to empower youth under the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) programme to help them become job creators rather than job seekers.
She reaffirmed the government’s commitment to addressing youth unemployment through skills development and entrepreneurship support under programme.
Speaking during a sensitization meeting at St. Bakhita in Bomet County on Monday, the PS said the initiative targets young people aged 18 to 29 years who did not get a chance to pursue higher education, equipping them with employability skills and linking them to income-generating opportunities.
“We are aware that the majority of Kenya’s population, just like across Africa, is made up of young people. The government under President William Ruto is deeply concerned about creating better lives and meaningful opportunities for them,” Rono said.
She noted that close to one million young people join the job market every year, yet only about 10 percent manage to secure formal employment, leaving the rest struggling to make ends meet.
The PS said the NYOTA programme seeks to close this gap by offering hands-on training, business mentorship and financial support to youth who wish to start or expand small enterprises.
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“Through this programme, qualified beneficiaries will receive up to Ksh50,000 as seed capital to start businesses after completing their training,” she explained.
Rono added that the government will partner with the National Industrial Training Authority (NITA) to provide technical skills certification for participants who complete the six-month training course. Those enrolled will also be attached to industries and workshops to gain practical experience.
The NYOTA initiative is part of the broader Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), which emphasizes empowering youth and women at the grassroots by supporting vocational skills, small enterprises, and innovation.
“Our youth are talented and energetic. What they need is an opportunity to showcase their skills, earn a decent living, and contribute to building our nation,” she said.
On his part, Sotik MP Francis Sigei lauded President William Ruto for initiating the NYOTA programme, terming it a fulfillment of one of his campaign pledges.
“This programme is not political,” said Sigei. “It is meant to empower young people and give them a chance to become self-reliant and productive members of society.”
The NYOTA initiative is part of the broader Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), which emphasizes empowering youth and women at the grassroots through vocational skills, small businesses, and innovation.
By Our reporter
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