MALINDI, Kenya — The World Bank has explained its decision to support Kenya through the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) programme, citing unemployment as the country’s most urgent development challenge.
Speaking during the launch of the initiative in Malindi, Kilifi County, World Bank Country Director for Kenya Qimiao Fan said the programme was deliberately designed to address Kenya’s jobs crisis.
“NYOTA is important because it addresses what I believe is the biggest development challenge Kenya faces today — jobs,” Fan said. “This is why we, as the World Bank, decided to support it.”
Fan said the Bank’s engagement with Kenya is firmly anchored on employment creation and improving youth employability across sectors.
“The World Bank does only three things in Kenya: jobs, jobs, jobs,” he said. “In addition to supporting you in implementing NYOTA, our entire programme is squarely focused on supporting Kenya to create more inclusive jobs.”
He emphasised that the success of the NYOTA programme would not be judged by enrolment numbers alone, but by tangible outcomes.
“The real measure of success is whether beneficiaries become employable, start businesses, and create jobs for others,” Fan said.
The NYOTA programme, announced in July 2025, targets unemployed and underemployed youth and is structured around four key components. These include paid on-the-job training, entrepreneurship support, and Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) certification aimed at formalising informal skills.
The programme received approval from the World Bank Board, which committed approximately Sh29.5 billion to finance the initiative over a five-year period.
On implementation, the government has commenced the final phase of disbursement in eight counties, with the process expected to conclude within two weeks.
According to the Ministry, funds will be disbursed on Friday, February 6, to beneficiaries in Mombasa, Kwale, and Taita Taveta. Youths in Wajir County are scheduled to receive funds on Wednesday, February 11, while Garissa County beneficiaries will be paid on Thursday, February 12, according to the Principal Secretary.
The programme includes a Sh50,000 start-up grant for youth entrepreneurs, which has drawn public attention amid concerns about adequacy and accountability.
However, a recent Infotrak survey indicates that a majority of Kenyans believe the grant is sufficient to help young entrepreneurs take their first steps into business.
The NYOTA initiative forms part of the government’s broader youth employment strategy, as pressure mounts to convert public spending into sustainable jobs and measurable economic outcomes.
