All You Need to Know About the NYOTA Program And How to Benefit

The government’s ambitious National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) program has been launched to tackle unemployment and underemployment among young Kenyans. The initiative aims to equip youth with practical skills, startup capital, and certification opportunities to help them secure jobs or start businesses.

NYOTA, a flagship under the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) and supported by the World Bank, targets more than 820,000 jobless Kenyans aged between 18 and 29 years, and up to 35 years for persons with disabilities. The program seeks to provide sustainable economic opportunities through training, entrepreneurship support, and financial inclusion.

What the Program Offers

NYOTA is designed around four major components:

1. Employability and Skills Training:
   Youth are enrolled in on-the-job training and apprenticeship programs, where they gain hands-on experience and soft skills. Over 90,000 young people will receive placements and stipends of KSh6,000 per month. Another 20,000 will have their informal skills certified through the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) framework.
2. Entrepreneurship Support:
   Young Kenyans with business ideas receive startup grants, mentorship, and business development training. Participants can access up to KSh50,000 in seed capital, disbursed in tranches to help them start or expand small enterprises.
3. Youth Savings and Financial Inclusion:
   NYOTA encourages savings through schemes such as NSSF’s Haba Haba, where youth are trained on financial literacy and rewarded with matched contributions for consistent saving.
4. Strengthening Employment Systems:
   The program also builds government capacity to monitor youth employment data, improve coordination among agencies, and create sustainable systems to link young people with opportunities.

Who Is Eligible

The NYOTA program is open to Kenyan youth who meet the following criteria:

• Aged 18 to 29 years (up to 35 years for persons with disabilities).
• Possess a Form Four certificate or below.
• Are unemployed, underemployed, or working in low-income jobs.
• Hold a Kenyan national ID and have a SIM card registered in their name.

The initiative covers all 47 counties, including special consideration for refugees in regions such as Garissa and Turkana.

How to Apply

Applications are made through the official mobile USSD code *254#. Applicants should:

1. Dial the code and select the NYOTA option.
2. Fill in their personal and education details as prompted.
3. Choose a preferred track — training, entrepreneurship, or skills recognition.
4. Await confirmation for further training, assessment, or placement.

The Ministry of Co-operatives and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development has emphasized that application and participation are free, warning Kenyans to avoid paying anyone claiming to facilitate registration.

Success Story

Take the example of Aisha, a 24-year-old from Kisii County who had been working informally as a tailor. After registering for NYOTA under the Recognition of Prior Learning component, she was certified as a qualified tailor. She later joined the entrepreneurship track, received business training and a KSh50,000 startup grant, and has since opened a tailoring shop. Through the program’s mentorship and savings scheme, Aisha is now running a sustainable business and employing two other young people.

Why NYOTA Matters

According to government data, nearly one in five young Kenyans remains unemployed, and many more are stuck in low-paying, informal work. The NYOTA initiative aims to bridge this gap by linking skills development with financial empowerment.

“Kenya’s youth are our greatest resource. NYOTA is about giving them the tools, training, and financial support to shape their own future,” said a statement from the Micro and Small Enterprises Authority (MSEA), which is implementing the project.

The program’s financial inclusion model is expected to improve youth savings habits, while the entrepreneurship and training components will boost self-employment and job creation.

How to Benefit

To make the most of NYOTA, eligible youth are encouraged to:

• Apply through the official USSD code *254# or www.nyotaproject.go.ke.
• Choose a path that matches their goals — skills training, business support, or certification.
• Attend all required training and mentorship sessions.
• Save regularly through the supported financial schemes.
• Stay updated through official government channels to avoid misinformation or fraud.

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