The Government with support from the World Bank has allocated 33 billion shillings under the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) and the Kenya Jobs and Economic Transformation (KJET) Project to create and improve job opportunities to empower vulnerable youth and women across all the 47 counties.
Cooperatives and Micro and Small Enterprises Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya, while speaking at the roll out of the program at Musingu Boys High school in Ikolomani Constituency, Kakamega County said at least one million youth are expected to benefit under the five year period.
He said the NYOTA programme is aimed at focusing on improving youth employment, boosting income, and promoting savings among vulnerable young people by supporting them with income-generating equipment and appliances.
Under the (KJET) Project, at least 45,000 Kenyans, including at least 6,800 women are expected to benefit through new or improved job opportunities.
The NYOTA programme targets youth aged between 18 and 29 and up to 35 years for Persons with Disabilities (PWD’s) aims to address unemployment, enhance income generation and promote a savings culture among the target group.
The CS, challenged youth to come forward and register under the programme, saying they will undergo training before being funded to initiate income-generating activities.
He said at least 70 youth will be selected from each ward across all the constituencies in the country.
The CS said the government was concerned about the high rate of unemployment facing youth in the country but said they now have an opportunity to enhance employment opportunities through entrepreneurship development.
“Many youth are suffering, they are without jobs to support their livelihoods, but under this program we intend to enlist about one million youth to engage in entrepreneurship,” he added.
The CS said his ministry was working closely with Members of Parliament, County governments and Members of the County Assemblies to ensure youth register for the program and start gainful employment.
The NYOTA initiative is an expansion of the Kenya Youth Empowerment Program (KYEOP), focusing on improving youth employment.
Speaking at the function, MP Bernard Shinali and Vihiga County Woman representative Beatrice Adagala asked youth to come forward and register for youth empowerment programs being rolled out by the government.
Ms Adagala appealed to the youth that as they get funding to start gainful employment, they should register under the Social Health Insurance (SHA) to benefit from the government’s medical scheme.
By George Kaiga
