President William Ruto has directed Principal Secretaries (PSs) to lead a nationwide sensitisation drive for the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) Project, signalling a whole-of-government approach to its implementation. The KSh 5 billion initiative, supported by the World Bank, seeks to empower 100,000 young Kenyans by addressing unemployment, income insecurity, and limited savings.

The PSs are scheduled to meet with governors, Members of Parliament (MPs), Members of County Assemblies (MCAs), and local administrators in all 47 counties by Monday, October 6, 2025. This engagement aims to ensure transparency, inclusivity, and effective grassroots implementation of the program.

NYOTA Project: Empowering Youth

The NYOTA Project is a five-year transformative agenda designed to provide KSh 50,000 grants to 70 young people selected from each of Kenya's 1,450 wards, enabling them to launch business ventures. The program targets unemployed or underemployed youth aged 18-29, with an extension to 35 for persons with disabilities, who have a Form Four education level or below.

The project has garnered significant interest, with over 1.4 million applications received for its business support window through the USSD *254# platform. Cooperatives Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya revealed on August 27 that 180,000 applicants had been shortlisted through a randomisation process and are currently undertaking an online aptitude test. Of these, 46 percent are women, and 26,000 are persons with disabilities.

NYOTA's interventions include improving youth employability through skills development and apprenticeships for 90,000 young people, expanding employment opportunities by supporting 110,000 entrepreneurs with training and capital, and fostering a culture of savings among 190,000 beneficiaries through financial literacy and incentives via the NSSF's Haba Haba scheme. The project also aims to strengthen youth employment systems and capacity across government agencies and county governments.

Drought Response Intensifies

Concurrently, Cabinet Secretary for Public Service, Human Capital Development and Special Programmes, Geoffrey Ruku, flagged off relief food to drought-hit Arid and Semi-Arid Land (ASAL) counties. This dispatch, from the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) depot in Nairobi, marks the beginning of a broader intervention targeting all 23 ASAL counties.

According to the National Drought Management Authority (NDMA), 2.15 million people across the ASAL belt urgently require food assistance. The relief consignment includes 6,600 bags of maize for Turkana, 7,200 bags of rice for Mandera, and 8,840 bags of beans to be shared between the two counties. This initial supply is estimated to benefit approximately 204,600 people in Turkana and 287,700 in Mandera.

CS Ruku emphasised the government's commitment to ensuring no Kenyan dies of hunger, especially with forecasts predicting below-average rainfall in the upcoming October-December short rains season. He also highlighted the need for long-term solutions to chronic food insecurity, citing ongoing government investments in irrigation, water harvesting, and climate-resilient agriculture.

Stakeholder Engagement and Future Outlook

The government's multi-agency approach for NYOTA aims to ensure smooth coordination and fair implementation. Analysts suggest this development could influence near-term public debate and policy execution, with stakeholders urging clarity on timelines, costs, and safeguards for both the NYOTA program and drought response efforts.

The NYOTA project, a collaboration between the Government of Kenya and the World Bank, builds on the success of the Kenya Youth Employment and Opportunities Project (KYEOP). The formal launch of NYOTA by President Ruto is expected in the coming weeks, coinciding with the first disbursement of start-up capital to beneficiaries.

Evidence/Data

• NYOTA Project Budget: KSh 5 billion
• NYOTA Target Beneficiaries: 100,000 youth nationwide (with KSh 50,000 grants), 820,000 vulnerable youth (overall project target)
• NYOTA Applications Received: Over 1.4 million
• NYOTA Shortlisted Applicants: 180,000 (46% women, 26,000 persons with disabilities)
• Drought-Affected Population: 2.15 million people in ASAL counties requiring food assistance
• Initial Relief Food Dispatch: 6,600 bags of maize (Turkana), 7,200 bags of rice (Mandera), 8,840 bags of beans (Turkana and Mandera)
• Beneficiaries of Initial Relief: Approximately 204,600 in Turkana and 287,700 in Mandera