Gerald Kyalo. (geraldbway).
Principal Secretary for MSMEs Development Susan Mang’eni has announced that the government plans to expand the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) programme to reach a broader group of young people and promote more inclusive empowerment. Speaking during a government podcast hosted by government spokesperson Isaac Mwaura, Mang’eni said the programme will soon extend funding to university and college students. Currently, the initiative primarily targets youth who have not progressed beyond secondary education.
“Going forward, we will strengthen support for young people by providing more enablers through targeted interventions at all levels,” Mang’eni said. “Although we currently prioritize youth who have not advanced beyond secondary school, we plan to expand support to university and college students to ensure broader and more inclusive economic empowerment opportunities.”
Mang’eni explained that the government introduced the project to challenge the perception that young people cannot run successful businesses or that entrepreneurial success is limited to certain communities. She noted that the programme has received an overwhelmingly positive response nationwide, helping to dispel stereotypes previously associated with youth-led enterprises.
“The NYOTA programme is arguably the first initiative of its kind to attract such a high level of attention from both national leadership and the general public,” she said. She added that the programme prioritizes inclusivity and economic empowerment, with a deliberate focus on sectors and value chains that have strong potential to create jobs.
Addressing recent claims that fraudsters have infiltrated the programme, Mang’eni urged young people to remain vigilant and avoid individuals who claim they can use connections to secure funds. “Be cautious of fraudsters. Always verify information by visiting our official website or checking our verified social media channels. My Twitter (X) handle is listed on the website and can also be confirmed through messages sent to the official number. Do not share your personal details with anyone”.
“Going forward, we will strengthen support for young people by providing more enablers through targeted interventions at all levels,” Mang’eni said. “Although we currently prioritize youth who have not advanced beyond secondary school, we plan to expand support to university and college students to ensure broader and more inclusive economic empowerment opportunities.”
Mang’eni explained that the government introduced the project to challenge the perception that young people cannot run successful businesses or that entrepreneurial success is limited to certain communities. She noted that the programme has received an overwhelmingly positive response nationwide, helping to dispel stereotypes previously associated with youth-led enterprises.
“The NYOTA programme is arguably the first initiative of its kind to attract such a high level of attention from both national leadership and the general public,” she said. She added that the programme prioritizes inclusivity and economic empowerment, with a deliberate focus on sectors and value chains that have strong potential to create jobs.
Addressing recent claims that fraudsters have infiltrated the programme, Mang’eni urged young people to remain vigilant and avoid individuals who claim they can use connections to secure funds. “Be cautious of fraudsters. Always verify information by visiting our official website or checking our verified social media channels. My Twitter (X) handle is listed on the website and can also be confirmed through messages sent to the official number. Do not share your personal details with anyone”.
