More young people in Marsabit are set to start or grow businesses after the Government rolled out the second phase of the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) Programme, extending financial support, skills training and employment opportunities to hundreds of beneficiaries across the county.
The programme was launched nationally by President William Ruto, with Principal Secretary for Internal Security and National Administration Raymond Omollo saying it is helping thousands of young Kenyans become economically independent by giving them the tools needed to build businesses and secure sustainable livelihoods.
Omollo said NYOTA targets youth aged between 18 and 29 years, while Persons with Disabilities are eligible up to the age of 35. He added that the programme is being implemented in all 1,450 wards across the country to ensure young people from every part of Kenya have an opportunity to benefit.
In Marsabit, 1,570 youth received the first Sh25,000 business support grant under the programme, while the second phase is supporting 1,680 beneficiaries, including young people joining NYOTA for the first time.
“The success stories we are witnessing across Marsabit and the country demonstrate that when young people are given opportunities, they can transform their lives, support their families and contribute to national development. We are proud that more than 90 per cent of beneficiaries have successfully invested the first grant in productive business ventures,” said Omollo.
He said beneficiaries in the second phase will receive another Sh25,000 business support grant. From this amount, Sh3,000 will be channelled to the NSSF Haba Haba Savings Scheme to encourage saving and strengthen the financial security of young entrepreneurs.
Omollo applauded the Marsabit County Government for creating favourable conditions for youth-owned businesses, noting that the county had made business licences available free of charge to young entrepreneurs.
He appealed to other county governments to follow the same path by partnering with the National Government to create an environment where youth enterprises can thrive.
“When our young people prosper, our counties prosper, and ultimately the entire country prospers. The partnership between the National Government and County Governments is critical in ensuring that young entrepreneurs succeed,” he said.
The Principal Secretary also highlighted other areas covered under the NYOTA Programme, including workplace attachment opportunities that expose young people to practical job experience and the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) programme, which awards formal certification to skilled workers such as mechanics, plumbers and technicians based on experience.
He said the programme is part of the Government's wider efforts to reduce youth unemployment by linking young people with business opportunities, skills training and employment pathways.
Omollo further urged beneficiaries to make use of other Government initiatives, including the Hustler Fund, the Youth Enterprise Development Fund and the Women Enterprise Fund, together with procurement opportunities available through both the National and County Governments.
He challenged the beneficiaries to build businesses capable of creating employment for other young people, saying entrepreneurship remains one of the strongest drivers of economic growth.
The nationwide rollout of the second phase of the NYOTA Programme reflects the Government's continued focus on expanding opportunities for young people through enterprise development, job creation and inclusive economic growth.
The launch was also attended by Principal Secretary for Petroleum Kello Harsama and Marsabit Deputy Governor Solomon Gubo.