Nakuru County Governor H.E. Susan Kihika joined President William Ruto at the Nakuru ASK Showgrounds for the launch of the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) Programme, during which Sh245.6 million was disbursed to 9,847 youth beneficiaries from Nakuru, Baringo, Narok, Bomet, and Kericho counties. The programme is part of the national effort to address youth unemployment and promote enterprise development across the country.
President Ruto explained that the NYOTA Programme is a key intervention under the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda, designed to provide youth with access to capital, skills, and certification. The programme aims to enable young people to establish or expand businesses, engage in productive employment, and participate in income-generating activities. In addition, the President noted that the government is working with development partners to implement a second phase of the programme to reach more youth.
As part of the initiative, the government is encouraging youth with skills but without formal certification to enrol in the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) programme. This programme allows participants to gain formal recognition for their skills, enabling access to employment opportunities both locally and internationally. The President highlighted that 90,000 youth are expected to benefit from on-the-job training while 600,000 youth and women will be trained to access government procurement opportunities.
Governor Kihika acknowledged the importance of the programme, noting that it affirms the potential of youth across all villages, wards, and estates, and demonstrates that lack of capital should not hinder enterprise growth. She emphasized that Nakuru County has aligned its development priorities with the national vision by establishing the Sh100 million Wezesha Fund, which provides low-interest credit to youth, women, entrepreneurs, and cooperatives. To date, over Sh47 million has been disbursed through the Cooperative Revolving Development Fund, benefiting multiple grassroots groups and supporting the establishment and growth of local enterprises.
In addition to the funding provided under NYOTA, Governor Kihika announced county-specific support measures aimed at enhancing youth participation in business and enterprise. These include one-year licence fee waivers for NYOTA beneficiaries operating within Nakuru County, access to stalls at Ziwani Market, and the creation of a Sh30 million Boda Boda Fund. The Governor also outlined measures to facilitate business operations, including fast-tracked issuance of single business permits within an hour, and the expansion of Vocational Training Centres from 33 to 41 to provide practical skills for youth across the county.
Governor Kihika further noted that the county will continue investing in youth empowerment initiatives, digital hubs, and sports infrastructure, including the completion of Olenguruone Stadium and Phase II of Afraha Stadium. These interventions are intended to support both economic and social opportunities for young people, including access to training, recreation, and employment.
The launch was attended by Cabinet Secretaries Dr. Wycliffe Oparanya (Cooperatives and MSMEs Development), Salim Mvurya (Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports), and Lee Kinyanjui (Investments, Trade and Industry), as well as Principal Secretaries, Deputy Governors David Kones and Felix Kipng’ok, Members of Parliament, county officials, and Members of the County Assembly.
The NYOTA Programme, alongside county initiatives such as the Wezesha Fund and support for youth markets and vocational training, is expected to provide multiple benefits for young people in Nakuru and surrounding counties. Access to capital enables youth to start and expand businesses, increasing income generation and reducing unemployment. Skills training and certification through the RPL programme improve employability and allow participants to access opportunities in formal employment sectors. County support measures, including business permits, market access, and targeted funding, reduce operational barriers for entrepreneurs, enabling them to operate more efficiently and grow their enterprises.
Through these coordinated national and county-level interventions, youth are positioned to participate actively in the economy, establish sustainable enterprises, and contribute to local and regional development. The launch of the NYOTA Programme in Nakuru underscores Governor Susan Kihika’s commitment to aligning county development priorities with national economic strategies, ensuring that youth across the county have access to the resources, skills, and support needed to succeed in business and employment.