The Kenyan government, in partnership with the World Bank, is finalizing a collaboration aimed at providing young mothers with a monthly stipend to support their needs.
According to President’s Senior Economic Advisor Moses Kuria, this initiative will offer financial assistance during pregnancies and continue until the children reach three years of age.
In addition to the monthly stipend, Kuria announced that each mother will receive Ksh1,000, which will be contributed to the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) to encourage a culture of saving. “We have a special package for young mothers. From pregnancy up to three years, we will provide them with a stipend to help them survive. Ksh1,000 will go towards their NSSF savings,” he explained.
The initiative is part of a broader program named NYOTA, which aims to benefit all youth in Kenya. Under this program, 100,000 Kenyan youths will receive grants of up to Ksh50,000 to support their entrepreneurial ventures.
During a recent radio interview, Kuria elaborated on the NYOTA program, stating, “This is an incredible initiative between the World Bank and the Kenyan Government known as the National Youth Opportunity Towards Advancement (NYOTA). It encompasses two main components: enterprise and skills development.”
For the enterprise component, the government plans to recruit 100,000 young people randomly from local areas. They will receive psychosocial and skills training, followed by a Ksh50,000 grant to start their own businesses. Additionally, participants will be linked to larger industries for subcontracting opportunities.
Kuria also highlighted the skills training aspect of the initiative, which will provide another 100,000 Kenyan youth with free training and subsequently match them with relevant local and international industries. Notably, 20,000 slots will be reserved for refugees living in Kenya.
Participants who successfully complete the training programs will have the opportunity to work in corporate settings and receive monthly payments.
Kuria emphasized that this initiative reflects the government’s commitment to addressing the ongoing economic challenges and empowering both young mothers and youth in Kenya.
