Former Roots Party deputy presidential candidate Justina Wamae has questioned the credibility and sustainability of the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) programme.
Professor George Wajacoya’s former running mate warned that without strict oversight, the Ksh50,000 youth grants could be squandered instead of empowering beneficiaries.
In a post shared on X on Monday, Wamae cautioned that the funds might end up being misused if proper vetting is not done.
“NYOTA grants will land in KEG joints if the beneficiaries are issued without proper scrutiny. Wish they signed a Portfolio Guarantee agreement with local banks,” she wrote.
Wamae also raised questions about the source of funding for the Ksh5 billion initiative, saying the World Bank rarely gives such grants without repayment models conditions. She added that there are always conditions tied to such huge grants.
“NYOTA is a loan of Ksh5 billion. World Bank people don’t give us free grants,” she added.
A Bold Plan to Empower Youth
Launched as a five-year partnership between the World Bank and the Government of Kenya, the NYOTA programme targets over 820,000 youth aged between 18 and 29 years, including up to 35 persons with disabilities.
The initiative is designed to improve youth employability and entrepreneurship through skills training, mentorship, and small business grants.
According to Thika Town MP Alice Ng’ang’a, who chairs the parliamentary committee overseeing youth affairs, the programme is meant to ensure that “young people are not just trained but also absorbed into the economy” through collaboration between government agencies and private partners.
So far, more than 46,000 applicants have completed the Entrepreneurship Aptitude Test, with many advancing to Business Development Services training and auto-enrolment into NSSF’s Haba Haba savings plan.
Implementation Hurdles and Funding Questions
Despite its ambitious design, the NYOTA programme faces several hurdles. Lawmakers have cited high demand against limited funding, documentation challenges in remote areas, and slow procurement processes as key obstacles.
To address these, the committee pledged to push for more budgetary allocation, improved awareness campaigns, and stronger collaboration with county governments and private sector players.
However, doubts continue to linger over how effectively the funds will be managed.
Speaking on a TV talk show on October 7, Embakasi North MP James Gakuya warned that the grants may eventually burden taxpayers if repayment to the World Bank falls on the national budget.
“The Ksh50,000 may appear free, but ultimately, it’s taxpayers who will repay the loan,” he said, calling for transparency and accountability in disbursing the funds.
His sentiments mirrored Wamae’s fears that poor oversight could see the grants diverted to non-productive ventures.
Calls for Stronger Oversight
During the programme’s launch in Iten, Marakwet West MP Timothy Kipchumba urged the government to take firm action against rogue employment agencies that exploit job seekers under the guise of youth programmes.
At the same event, Andrew Kemboi of the National Employment Authority revealed that over 300,000 job opportunities are currently listed on the agency’s portal, encouraging youth to take advantage of available platform.
While the NYOTA initiative has been hailed as a transformative step toward tackling youth unemployment, critics insist that without tighter financial controls and clearer repayment terms, the multi-billion shilling project risks becoming yet another well-intentioned plan undermined by poor management and misuse of public funds.
