The government has announced a validation exercise for Kenyans shortlisted for the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) fund, marking a key milestone in the rollout of President William Ruto’s flagship youth empowerment programme.
Speaking on Tuesday, October 21, Youth Affairs Principal Secretary Fikirini Jacobs confirmed that the validation process will officially commence on Friday, October 24, in line with the President’s directive issued during the Mashujaa Day celebrations in Kitui.
According to the PS, the exercise will be conducted at the constituency level, with all pre-selected candidates required to report to their respective sub-county venues for physical validation.
“All pre-selected applicants are encouraged to familiarise themselves with their respective venues and prepare to participate in this important stage of the programme,” said PS Fikirini.
He further directed that all shortlisted individuals must present themselves in person and carry their original national ID cards along with a copy of their pre-selection message for verification.
Fikirini also urged applicants who have not yet received their pre-selection notifications to remain patient, noting that the process of sending out messages is ongoing.
“To the applicants who have not yet received the pre-selection SMS, please be patient as the process of sending out messages is still ongoing, and you will receive your notification soon,” he assured.
The announcement comes a day after President Ruto instructed the Ministry of Youth Affairs and other relevant agencies to fast-track the shortlisting and validation process to ensure timely access to funds by qualified youth.
The NYOTA initiative, a five-year programme funded by the World Bank, is designed to tackle youth unemployment, income insecurity, and low savings by supporting young people in entrepreneurship, skills development, and innovation.
During his Mashujaa Day address on Monday, October 20, President Ruto revealed that his administration had partnered with the World Bank to set aside Ksh20 billion for the programme, targeting over 800,000 youth across the country.
“We have Ksh20 billion from the World Bank to give to our youth. We will be targeting 800,000 youths who will receive funding under different categories of the NYOTA project,” Ruto announced.
The disbursement of funds is scheduled to begin on November 4, marking the official launch of one of the most ambitious youth empowerment projects in Kenya’s recent history.