Kindiki says gov't expanding youth empowerment through NYOTA programme
He spoke at the Jomo Kenyatta Agricultural Society of Kenya (ASK) Grounds in Mombasa, where President Ruto presided over the disbursement of KSh 147 million in NYOTA business start-up capital to 5,880 young entrepreneurs from Mombasa, Kwale, and Taita Taveta counties.
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Kenya’s youth empowerment agenda remains a key priority of the Government, with increased focus on enterprise development, job creation, skills training, and reducing the cost of living, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has said.
Speaking in Mombasa during the disbursement of start-up capital under the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) programme, Kindiki said the administration of President William Ruto is implementing long-term interventions aimed at enabling young Kenyans to build sustainable livelihoods and contribute to economic growth.
“The NYOTA programme does not discriminate on the basis of region, religion, or political affiliation. As long as you are a Kenyan youth, you are eligible,” Kindiki said.
He said the programme is a comprehensive youth empowerment initiative anchored on four pillars: business support, skills training, recognition of prior learning, and access to government procurement through the Access to Government Procurement Opportunities (AGPO) framework. The initiative is expected to directly benefit more than 820,000 young people, with plans underway to scale it up to one million beneficiaries.
Kindiki noted that NYOTA complements other job and income creation programmes, including affordable housing, institutional housing, and markets construction projects that have engaged more than 500,000 youths. He added that over 536,000 Kenyans have secured employment opportunities abroad through the Kazi Majuu programme, while thousands more are earning livelihoods through digital work under Kazi Mtandaoni.
On tax relief measures, the Deputy President said recent reforms are easing pressure on low- and middle-income earners.
“Under this government, 1.5 million Kenyans earning less than KSh 30,000 per month will no longer pay PAYE, while another 500,000 workers earning below KSh 50,000 will see their PAYE reduced,” he said.
The Deputy President said the administration has shifted away from what he described as the historical use of youth for political mobilisation, instead prioritising economic empowerment.
“We are empowering young people not to fight political battles, but to build businesses, earn income, and support their families,” he said.
He spoke at the Jomo Kenyatta Agricultural Society of Kenya (ASK) Grounds in Mombasa, where President Ruto presided over the disbursement of KSh 147 million in NYOTA business start-up capital to 5,880 young entrepreneurs from Mombasa, Kwale, and Taita Taveta counties.
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