The government is doubling down on its youth empowerment strategy, with Deputy President Kithure Kindiki announcing a massive expansion of the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) program. In a bold declaration of intent, Kindiki revealed that the state plans to more than double the number of beneficiaries from the current 820,000 to a staggering 2 million youth in the long run.

Speaking at his official residence in Karen while meeting with Cabinet Secretaries and CEOs spearheading the initiative, the Deputy President emphasized that the program is being "fine-tuned" to absorb this influx. "Currently, we are at 820,000 beneficiaries but we will double this number and even reach 2 million youth," Kindiki stated. The expansion is not just about numbers; it represents a strategic pivot to address the ticking time bomb of youth unemployment through direct grants, skills development, and on-the-job training.

Billions in Grants

The NYOTA project has already disbursed significant funds, with President William Ruto recently overseeing the release of KSh 173.2 million to beneficiaries in Central Kenya and KSh 220 million in Nyanza. The program provides a grant of KSh 50,000 per beneficiary, split between business capital and mandatory savings. Kindiki clarified that these funds are grants, not loans, debunking skepticism that the government is trapping youth in debt. "We have seen a lot of impact in supporting micro, small medium businesses and startups," he noted.

However, public skepticism remains high. A recent poll indicated that a majority of Kenyans doubt the transparency of the fund. Kindiki addressed this by stating that the government is "injecting more resources" and "removing non-essential budget lines" to ensure the money reaches the intended recipients. The move to expand the program is also seen as a political tool to consolidate the youth vote and stabilize the "Hustler" base.

• The Goal: Expand beneficiaries from 820,000 to 2 million.
• The Support: KSh 50,000 grant (Capital + Savings) per person.
• The Strategy: Fine-tuning components like AGPO and skills training.

As the government rolls out Phase Two, the pressure is on to deliver tangible results. For the 2 million youth targeted, the promise of NYOTA is a glimmer of hope; for the administration, it is a critical deliverable that must not fail.