President William Ruto has officially launched a major skills development initiative targeting 90,000 unskilled Kenyan youth. The program will cover full course fees and provide monthly stipends to participants during their training period.
The initiative, known as the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA), is designed for young citizens who have completed primary or secondary school but lack formal vocational training. It is a central pillar of a comprehensive five-year plan aimed at supporting 820,000 unemployed young Kenyans through structured apprenticeships, business grants, and skills development.
“The NYOTA program is our commitment to bottom-up empowerment. It is about creating self-reliance by investing directly in the potential of our young people,” President Ruto stated during the launch.
The announcement follows a recent disbursement of KSh 147 million to 5,901 beneficiaries in Machakos, Kitui, and Makueni counties, marking the program’s initial phase.
To ensure nationwide accessibility and transparency, the application process has been fully digitalized. Eligible youth from across the country can now apply via USSD by dialing *254# or by visiting the program’s official website. The government emphasized that this digital approach guarantees “every young person has an equal and fair chance to benefit.”
The launch addresses the critical challenge of youth unemployment in Kenya, which remains high at approximately 12% for individuals aged 15-24. Through NYOTA, the government seeks to provide direct pathways to employability and entrepreneurship, offering not just training but also business capital support and recognition for prior learning experiences.
