Cabinet meeting at State House, Nairobi, on July 29, 2025./PCS
President William Ruto on Tuesday chaired a Cabinet meeting at State House, Nairobi, where among the key resolutions passed to address youth unemployment in the country.
According to a Cabinet dispatch on July 29, 2025, the Cabinet has endorsed the August 2025 rollout of the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (Nyota) Project, a major initiative aimed at addressing youth unemployment in Kenya.
The programme, a joint effort between the government and the World Bank, targets over 820,000 vulnerable and unemployed youth, including persons with disabilities.
It forms part of the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda and aims to boost employability, skills recognition, and access to decent work.
Speaking during the 62nd Madaraka Day celebrations, Ruto said the government, in partnership with the World Bank, will target over 800,000 youth aged 18–29, and up to 35 for those with disabilities.
“As part of our financial empowerment programme for those at the base of the economy, Nyota will enhance employability through training, work experience, recognition of prior learning, entrepreneurship, and a savings culture,” he said.
Nyotais is anchored on the Hustler Fund platform and has attracted over 1 million business support applicants.
At least 70 youth per ward will benefit from grants, business training, and market access.
The programme is structured into four key components: paid on-the-job training, entrepreneurship support, certification through Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), and life skills development.
It also builds on lessons learned from previous youth-focused interventions such as Kazi Mtaani and the Kenya Youth Employment Opportunities Project (KYEOP), which also received World Bank support.
These past programmes showed that targeted training, financial support, and public-private collaboration can help bridge the gap between education and employment.
By aligning training with labour market needs and recognising informal skills, Nyota seeks to improve the long-term job prospects of young Kenyans and promote entrepreneurship among youth lacking formal credentials.
The government views it as a strategic investment in the country’s demographic dividend, where over 70 per cent of the population is under the age of 35.
So far, more than one million applications have been submitted, reflecting strong interest from young people across the country.
A major part of the programme is the On-the-Job Experience initiative, which offers three- to six-month placements for 90,000 youth.
Participants will receive a monthly stipend of Sh6,000, deposited into Haba Haba savings accounts to encourage financial inclusion.
Applications for the programme are open from July 11 to August 15, 2025.
The government hopes Nyota will not only equip young Kenyans with practical skills and work experience but also support their transition into long-term employment or entrepreneurship.
