By Aoma Keziah,
The government has outlined a new initiative designed to open economic opportunities for young people across the country. Cabinet Secretary for Cooperatives and MSMEs Development Dr. Wycliffe Oparanya, together with Principal Secretary for MSMEs Development Hon. Susan Mang’eni, have given out details of the Nyota project, a five-year programme supported by the World Bank.
The project is expected to reach more than 800,000 vulnerable youth aged between 18 and 29 years, with persons with disabilities eligible up to the age of 35. According to the ministry, Nyota is structured to expand employment options, provide entrepreneurship training, promote savings and connect youth to government procurement opportunities.
“This programme is about creating foundations for sustainable empowerment of our young people, right from the grassroots in all 1,450 wards,” Oparanya said.
Key targets include the creation of 110,000 youth-run businesses, training of 90,000 young people for employment, certification of 20,000 artisans under the Recognition of Prior Learning framework, and training of 600,000 youth on savings and access to government tenders.
Implementation of Nyota will involve multiple agencies, including the Micro and Small Enterprises Authority, the National Employment Authority, the National Industrial Training Authority, and the National Social Security Fund, with coordination from the State Department for Youth Affairs and Creative Economy.
“The programme has four main components. The first focuses on skills development and apprenticeships, the second on business training and start-up support, the third on encouraging savings through the NSSF’s Haba Haba scheme, and the fourth on strengthening systems and digital capacity for access to markets and finance,” stated Oparanya
Under the business support component, youths will receive start-up capital ranging between KSh 50,000 and KSh 70,000. The ministry has planned the rollout in three cohorts and across eight regional clusters, beginning with the Western region.
“Training for the first cohort of 54,000 young people started this morning in Kakamega, Vihiga, Bungoma and Busia counties,” the Cabinet Secretary continued to state.
Participants will undergo a week of classroom sessions, followed by two months of mentorship. Disbursement of funds will take place once the training is complete, after which business development experts will guide the beneficiaries in turning their ideas into viable enterprises.
The formal launch of the Nyota project is scheduled for the coming weeks and will be officiated by President William Ruto.
Mt Kenya Times