The Kenyan government has unveiled a major employment initiative that will see close to 900,000 young people benefit starting August 2025.
The program, known as the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA), offers structured opportunities that come with a monthly stipend of Ksh6,000.
According to a recent Cabinet announcement, NYOTA is made up of four key parts and is being funded in collaboration with the World Bank.
One of the main components already underway is the On-the-Job Training (OJT) programme, which targets about 90,000 youth. Under this section, young people will be placed in various companies and institutions for three to six months, where they will earn Ksh6,000 monthly.
The money will be deposited into their Haba Haba savings accounts, encouraging financial responsibility and saving habits.
The NYOTA program is designed to benefit a wide range of young people, including those from vulnerable backgrounds and those living with disabilities.
It will provide participants with practical job experience, support for business development, and certification through Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)—which officially acknowledges skills and experiences learned outside of school.
“This program is part of our plan to create job opportunities and improve skills among the youth,” a section of the Cabinet report stated.
The official launch is set for August 2025, and already, more than one million applications have been submitted.
Those interested in joining are encouraged to apply before August 15, as the application period began on July 11. Successful applicants will benefit not only from the monthly stipend but also from improved chances of long-term employment or entrepreneurship support.
The NYOTA initiative is one of several job creation programs under the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), which aims to uplift disadvantaged Kenyans through empowerment and access to economic opportunities.
Another program launched under this agenda is Climate WorX Mtaani, which President William Ruto introduced in September 2024.
That initiative focuses on tackling environmental issues while creating green jobs for the youth. So far, over 21,000 young people in Nairobi County alone have secured employment through Climate WorX.
With NYOTA and similar initiatives, the government is giving young Kenyans a chance not just to earn an income but also to build real skills, gain certification, and secure a better future in the job market.
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