Nairobi: The Government has reopened the application window for the NYOTA Programme’s On-Job Experience (OJE) component, aiming to enhance skills training and employment opportunities for vulnerable young Kenyans, according to Principal Secretary for Youth Affairs and Creative Economy, Fikirini Jacobs. This renewed effort targets young individuals who previously missed the initial intake of the NYOTA Project, which seeks to empower 820,000 youth across the nation with a comprehensive funding of Sh20 billion.
According to Kenya News Agency, Jacobs highlighted that the program prioritizes young people with limited educational backgrounds, including those who did not complete secondary school, lack formal education, refugees, and youth facing multiple vulnerabilities. He emphasized the NYOTA Project’s significance as one of Kenya’s most impactful youth empowerment initiatives, spearheaded by the State Department for Youth Affairs and Creative Economy and funded through government resources, including developmen
t loans.
The program employs a gender-balanced approach, ensuring equal participation of male and female youth, alongside a five percent allocation determined through peer review mechanisms. It also focuses on youth from refugee-hosting communities and those experiencing additional vulnerabilities.
Under the OJE component, the Government intends to train 90,000 youth through a structured program merging technical skills development with workplace exposure. Participants will undergo a six-month training period, starting with an induction that includes life skills and social-emotional learning, followed by hands-on training under experienced master craftsmen and women. During this time, beneficiaries receive a monthly stipend of Sh6,000 to support their participation and cover basic costs such as transportation.
Jacobs stated that participants would be assessed and certified through the National Industrial Training Authority and NYOTA, significantly enhancing their employment prospects both locally and inter
nationally. After completing the training, participants will engage in a six-month apprenticeship with employer organizations, providing a full year of combined training and workplace experience.
Despite the initial phase attracting 267,000 applicants, turnout during induction in certain regions fell short of expectations. Only 6,000 out of the anticipated 16,000 applicants in counties such as Homa Bay, Kisii, Nyamira, Bomet, Narok, and Nakuru reported for training. This shortfall prompted the decision to reopen the application window, offering more young people the opportunity to benefit from the program.
Jacobs encouraged youth interested in fields like mechanics, cosmetology, construction, and other technical trades to apply. He also noted that youth who applied for the Business Support Component, which saw over two million applicants vying for 100,000 slots, could still gain employable skills through OJE to enhance their economic prospects.
The program also includes a Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL
) component targeting 20,000 youth who possess informally acquired skills but lack formal certification. This initiative aims to assess, certify, and position these individuals competitively in the job market. Jacobs highlighted that over 1,000 workers in the Affordable Housing Programme have already been certified under this framework.
Additionally, the NYOTA Programme involves training 600,000 youth on Access to Government Procurement Opportunities (AGPO) to benefit from the 30 percent procurement quota reserved for youth, women, and persons with disabilities. Jacobs noted that this training seeks to prevent youth from being exploited as proxy company directors by older business operators.
The program also supports 10,000 youth-led social enterprises with training, equipment, and business support to foster income generation and sustainable ventures. Building on lessons from the earlier Kenya Youth Employment Opportunities Project (KYEOP), the NYOTA Programme operates on a larger scale, covering all 47 cou
nties while emphasizing transparency and public engagement.
Jacobs noted that several county governments have committed to waiving business licensing and trade fees for youth beneficiaries, reducing the cost of doing business. He urged young Kenyans to take advantage of the reopened application window and encouraged media support to increase awareness about the program.
Describing NYOTA as a significant long-term investment in Kenya’s future, Jacobs emphasized its role in addressing youth unemployment, poverty, and economic exclusion. He urged eligible youth to seize the opportunity presented by the program.
