A total of 1,750 youth from Kajiado County are set to benefit from the government’s Sh5 billion National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) Programme, a flagship initiative aimed at tackling unemployment and promoting entrepreneurship among young Kenyans.
The programme was officially launched on Monday at Maasai National Polytechnic by the Principal Secretary for Irrigation, Dr. Ephantus Kimotho, who described NYOTA as a cornerstone of the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA). He said the initiative targets marginalized and vulnerable communities by equipping youth with capital, training, and mentorship.
Under the plan, 70 youth from each of Kajiado’s 25 wards will receive a business grant of Sh50,000 to start or expand income-generating ventures. “NYOTA is designed to equip our youth with the tools, resources, and support needed to create sustainable livelihoods and contribute to national development,” said Dr. Kimotho.
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Kajiado South MP Samuel Parashina Sakimba, urged young people to seize the opportunity and apply in large numbers. “This is a chance for our youth to lift themselves out of unemployment and dependency,” he said, calling on local leaders, youth groups, and administrators to help mobilize applicants, especially in remote areas.
NYOTA is a five-year programme implemented by the Government of Kenya in partnership with the World Bank. It targets 100,000 youth aged 18 to 29 across all 1,450 wards nationwide. For persons with disabilities, the age limit has been extended to 35 years.
Interested youth have been advised to apply via the USSD code *254# between October 6 and 12, 2025. Previous applicants will not need to reapply, as their submissions will be considered during the current registration window.
By Masaki Enock
