Government Unveils Nyota Project to Empower Over 800,000 Youth Nationwide

The government has unveiled a major youth empowerment initiative dubbed the Nyota Project, aimed at expanding economic opportunities for young people across Kenya. The five-year programme, supported by the World Bank, seeks to equip youth with employability and entrepreneurial skills while promoting savings and access to government procurement opportunities.

Speaking during the briefing, Cabinet Secretary for Cooperatives and MSMEs Development, Dr. Wycliffe Oparanya, said the initiative is part of the government’s commitment to building sustainable livelihoods for the youth. He was accompanied by Principal Secretary for MSMEs Development, Hon. Susan Mang’eni.

“This programme is about creating foundations for sustainable empowerment of our young people, right from the grassroots in all 1,450 wards,” said Oparanya.

The Nyota Project targets over 800,000 vulnerable youth aged between 18 and 29 years, with persons with disabilities eligible up to the age of 35. It aims to create 110,000 youth-run enterprises, train 90,000 young people for employment, certify 20,000 artisans through the Recognition of Prior Learning framework, and train 600,000 youth on savings and access to government tenders.

Implementation will be spearheaded by several state agencies, including the Micro and Small Enterprises Authority, National Employment Authority, National Industrial Training Authority, and the National Social Security Fund (NSSF), under coordination by the State Department for Youth Affairs and the Creative Economy.

According to Oparanya, the programme has four components: skills development and apprenticeships, business training and start-up support, promotion of savings through NSSF’s Haba Haba scheme, and strengthening digital systems for market and finance access.

Under the business support component, beneficiaries will receive start-up capital ranging between KSh 50,000 and KSh 70,000. The rollout will take place in three cohorts across eight regional clusters, starting with the Western region.

“Training for the first cohort of 54,000 young people started this morning in Kakamega, Vihiga, Bungoma and Busia counties,” Oparanya revealed.

Participants will undergo a week-long classroom training followed by two months of mentorship, after which they will receive funds to kickstart their ventures. Business development experts will guide them in transforming their ideas into sustainable enterprises.

The official launch of the Nyota Project will be presided over by President William Ruto in the coming weeks.