President William Ruto has announced a nationwide skills initiative targeting 90,000 young Kenyans who completed Class 8, Form 2, or Form 4 but did not progress to college or vocational training.
Speaking in Machakos County While presiding over the NYOTA Project, Ruto said that the programme will fund short courses in trades such as tailoring, cosmetics, and plumbing, offering a pathway into the job market through practical skills and formal certification.
Under the plan, participants will receive a monthly stipend of Sh6,000 to support transport and basic living costs while attending training. After six months, the government will pay examination fees and issue certificates, enabling graduates to seek employment or start small enterprises with recognized qualifications.
“We are looking for 90,000 young people who have finished Class 8, Form 2 and Form 4 and have not managed to proceed, but have a plan to do any course looking for a skill,” President Ruto said, noting the programme will cover course fees, provide the monthly stipend, and fund exams at completion. He added that if applications exceed the initial target, the government will expand the programme to accommodate more youths.
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The initiative forms part of the administration’s bottom‑up economic model, which the President described as a practical plan to empower those previously overlooked by formal education pathways.
“Bottom up is not a slogan; it is a plan so that those who have not gotten an opportunity to go to college and have a skill, we want to support them because they too deserve support from their government,” he said.
Officials expect the programme to boost employability, spur micro‑enterprise, and advance economic inclusion among Kenya’s youth by bridging the gap between schooling and marketable skills. The government will open applications and placements for eligible candidates, with training aligned to demand‑driven sectors and delivered through accredited institutions.
By Masaki Enock
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