OVER 3,500 YOUTH VALIDATED UNDER NYOTA PROJECT IN VIHIGA
More than 3,518 youth across Vihiga County on 24 October successfully went through a validation exercise under the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) Project a flagship youth empowerment initiative spearheaded by the State Department for Public Service and Human Capital Development.
The two day exercise, conducted across all five sub-counties of Vihiga, was led by Ms. Jackline Otwori, the Acting Secretary for Public Service Reforms, representing Principal Secretary Dr. Jane Kere Imbunya.
In a speech read on her behalf, Dr. Imbunya said the validation process marked a pivotal milestone in ensuring the integrity and impact of the NYOTA Project.
“Today’s validation marks a critical step in confirming that only the right beneficiaries — those who truly meet the criteria are selected to benefit from this life-changing initiative,” read the PS’s speech. “The NYOTA Programme symbolizes hope, opportunity, and equity. It seeks to empower our youth through access to skills, employment pathways, and socio-economic upliftment.”
According to Philip Nyange, the Vihiga County Head of the Micro and Small Enterprises Authority (MSEA), the validation exercise recorded one of the highest, a success he attributed to effective multisectoral collaboration between national and county structures.
“We witnessed higher numbers than ever before a direct result of robust coordination between the Public Service Department, MSEA, and the National Government Administration Officers (NGAO),” said Nyange. “The teamwork across all levels ensured that every youth who had registered had a fair chance to be validated.”
Nyange added that MSEA teams, led by Ruth Bigambo, provided crucial on-site technical support to manage data verification and resolve system hitches during the process.
“Despite minor technical challenges, our systems held, and the process concluded smoothly,” he noted.
Speaking during the validation exercise at Luanda Constituency, Ms. Jackline Otwori hailed the high turnout as proof of growing trust in government-led youth empowerment initiatives.
“The response has been overwhelming. Nationwide, we have recorded over 804,000 registrations, and Vihiga County has demonstrated exceptional enthusiasm, with 3,518 youth successfully validated,” said Otwori.
She explained that the validation exercise is designed to ensure only genuine and eligible applicants proceed to the next phase.
“Applicants are required to present their National Identity Cards for authentication and respond to basic questions confirming their eligibility and commitment,” she added. “Once verified, they will take the Entrepreneurship Aptitude Test (EAT), which will help identify their business potential and readiness for self-employment.”
During an earlier sensitization drive in the county two weeks ago, Dr. Kere Imbunya announced that the government had allocated KSh 20 billion for the NYOTA Project, with KSh 5 billion already released for Phase One implementation.
“This initiative is not just about financial support,” said Dr. Imbunya. “It is about nurturing a generation of resilient, enterprising young Kenyans who can drive local economies and create sustainable livelihoods.”
She emphasized that the government remains committed to ensuring that no willing young person is left behind in accessing opportunities under the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).
“The enthusiasm we’ve witnessed reflects the readiness of our youth to seize opportunities for growth and economic independence,” she noted.
The NYOTA Project is a five-year initiative by the Government of Kenya, funded by the World Bank, designed to transform the lives of vulnerable and marginalized youth. It focuses on entrepreneurship training, financial support, and job placement, creating pathways for employment and self-reliance.