MARSABIT, Kenya — The government has intensified its grassroots youth empowerment drive following the official rollout of the second phase of the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) Programme in Marsabit County.
Speaking during the synchronized national launch, Interior Principal Secretary Dr. Raymond Omollo lauded the initiative as a major driver of economic transformation, confirming that the nationwide project now actively targets all 1,450 wards across the country. The programme accommodates young Kenyans aged between 18 and 29 years, with the age bracket extended up to 35 years for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs).
Cash Infusions and Mandatory Savings Schemes
The economic scale of the program in Marsabit has shown steady upward momentum. While 1,570 local beneficiaries successfully secured the initial KSh25,000 business support grant during the first phase, the current rollout has expanded to benefit ,1680 youth, pulling in a fresh cohort of first-time entrepreneurs.
Under the newly launched second phase, qualified beneficiaries are set to receive an additional KSh25,000 financial capital injection. In a strategic shift toward long-term social security and financial resilience, KSh3,000 of the new grant allocation will be funneled directly into the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) Haba Haba Savings Scheme, embedding a formal saving culture within the informal youth enterprise sector.
“The success stories we are witnessing across Marsabit and the country demonstrate that when young people are given opportunities, they can transform their lives,” Dr. Omollo stated, revealing that over 90 percent of the initial phase-one recipients had successfully localized their capital into highly productive business ventures.
Marsabit Praised for Free Business Licenses
Flanked by Petroleum Principal Secretary Kello Harsama and Marsabit Deputy Governor Solomon Gubo, the Interior PS highly commended the Marsabit County Government for lowering administrative barriers. He specifically praised the local administration for making county business licenses entirely free of charge for young traders. Omollo challenged the remaining 46 devolved units to emulate Marsabit’s model, stressing that seamless integration between national and county policies is critical to expanding the youth economy.
Beyond direct cash transfers, the NYOTA framework offers structured on-the-job workplace placements to bridge the practical skills gap. It also integrates the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) initiative, a statutory path that allows informal self-taught artisans—such as mechanics, plumbers, and technicians—to undergo formal competency assessments and receive recognized trade certifications.
Urging the beneficiaries to view the seed capital as a springboard, Dr. Omollo advised the youth to aggressively leverage subsequent state credit facilities like the Hustler Fund, the Youth Enterprise Development Fund, and the Women Enterprise Fund to scale their startups into job-creating entities.
