Government Takes NYOTA Project Training Deep Into Boni Forest to Empower Youth in Remote Lamu Communities
Principal Secretary for MSMEs Development Hon. Susan Mang’eni, accompanied by PS Investment Promotion Abubakar Hassan and local leaders, interacts with trainees during the NYOTA Project Business Training sessions in Kiwayu, Mkokoni and Kiangwe villages in Lamu West. The visit highlights the government’s commitment to delivering economic empowerment opportunities to remote communities within the Boni Forest.
The government has reaffirmed its commitment to extending economic empowerment initiatives to the most remote parts of the country after senior officials from the Ministry of Cooperatives and MSMEs Development visited NYOTA Project Business Training sessions in Lamu West, Lamu County.
The visit was led by the Principal Secretary for the State Department for MSMEs Development, Hon. Susan Mang’eni, who on Sunday toured training centres situated in isolated areas within the Boni Forest. The tour began at Kiwayu Primary School in Kiunga Ward, where trainees from Kiwayu and Ndau villages are undergoing entrepreneurship and business development training. The team later proceeded to Mkokoni Ward and then to Kiangwe Village in Basuba Ward, where additional groups of young people were participating in the programme.
The NYOTA Project is a national youth empowerment programme designed to equip young people with entrepreneurial skills, financial literacy and support to start and grow businesses. The project has been customised to ensure that youth in hard-to-reach areas such as Lamu can access the same opportunities as those in urban centres.
Hon. Mang’eni said the training model was deliberately structured to overcome geographical barriers that have historically limited access to national programmes. She noted that the project guarantees that at least 70 young people in every constituency benefit from training and enterprise development support, regardless of terrain or distance.
“The NYOTA Project has been intentionally customised to ensure equal access for all young people. Whether they are in urban centres or deep within the Boni Forest, youth are receiving the same quality of training. Our model ensures that no location is left behind,” she said.
She added that the government’s collaboration with various agencies is opening up opportunities for young people in Lamu to tap into value addition, build cottage industries and engage in the region’s priority value chains, particularly within the blue economy sector.
“The blue economy presents great potential for this region. Through NYOTA, we want to ensure that young people can participate meaningfully and build businesses that align with local economic strengths,” she said.
The Principal Secretary for Investment Promotion, Abubakar Hassan, also addressed the trainees and assured them of continued support from the government. He encouraged the youth to view entrepreneurship as a long-term investment that can uplift both individuals and communities.
“Our intention is not just to help you start a business. We want you to build enterprises that grow, create employment and contribute to economic development within your communities,” he said.
Local leadership welcomed the initiative, with Hon. Deko Barisa Bwana, MCA for Basuba Ward, commending the government for ensuring that young people in remote areas are not left out of national empowerment efforts. He said many youth in the region have previously been unable to access national programmes due to geographical isolation, but the NYOTA Project has brought training directly to their villages.
