Naivasha: Over 800,000 youth across the country are set to benefit from government funding and entrepreneurship training in a bid to tackle the growing challenge of unemployment. This follows recent statistics indicating that 19 percent of the 42 million youth in the country remain unemployed, despite holding the necessary academic qualifications.
According to Kenya News Agency, the government is collaborating with Non-State actors to empower youth through several programs, including National Youth Opportunities towards Advancement (NYOTA), Vijana Vuka na Afya (VIVA), and On Job Experience (OJE). The Principal Secretary for Youth Affairs and the Creative Economy, Fikirini Jacobs, announced that the government will disburse a Sh5 billion fund to 100,000 youth nationwide as seed capital to launch business-oriented ventures starting next month.
Fikirini noted that beneficiaries from every ward in the country will each receive Sh50,000 through the five-year NYOTA project, funded by the World Bank, to expand employment opportunities. Speaking during a stakeholder engagement meeting with County Heads of Youth and Trade dockets in Naivasha, the PS revealed that over one million youths have already applied for the NYOTA funding, despite only 100,000 being targeted for support.
The PS highlighted that youth are also benefiting from the VIVA project, supported by the German government, which is being implemented in Mombasa, Nairobi, and Kisumu, focusing on reproductive health and life skills for youth empowerment. Additionally, the government plans to assess and accredit more than 20,000 youth who have acquired skills but lack formal certification through the Recognition of Prior Learning Policy, commencing this financial year.
Fikirini further announced that 90,000 youth will benefit from the On-the-Job Experience model, placing them in host organizations to refine their skills. Moreover, 10,000 youth will be trained on the e-procurement platform to enhance their employability and expand access to business opportunities.
The government aims to accommodate over 800,000 youth through various platforms, providing them with funding, training, and exposure to critical skills needed in today’s competitive job market, starting this August, said the PS. Fikirini reiterated that these initiatives are part of the government’s broader agenda to reduce unemployment and invest in youth as key drivers of national development.
Agnes Ng’eno, the Chief Executive Committee Member for Youth and Trade in Bomet County, welcomed the initiative, stating that youth participation in such projects would help bridge the existing skills gap and reduce rising unemployment levels. Ng’eno also commended the involvement of County governments, noting that it would help address duplication of programs being implemented at both levels of government.
Dr. Betty Samburu, the County Executive for Trade in Migori, said the projects would nurture entrepreneurial skills among youth and improve their livelihoods. She praised the inclusion of young people, stating it would help address the rising youth bulge through targeted training initiatives and encouraged them to form groups to increase access to financial support for their ventures.