OTIENO: Nyota fund game changer to thousands of youths

At the outset, when the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement programme was launched, thousands of youths in the country — mostly those who had not progressed beyond Form 4 — cast doubt on a plan intended to uplift the jobless and financially struggling.

However, months later, the initiative has become a game changer and a turning point for thousands of youths across the country.

The administration of President William Ruto is disbursing Sh258 million in start-up capital to thousands of young entrepreneurs nationwide. The funds are being channelled to beneficiaries through Pochi la Biashara.

According to the government, each beneficiary receives Sh50,000 in phases, with Sh22,000 released in the first phase and Sh3,000 remitted to the National Social Security Fund.

The Nyota initiative targets more than 100,000 vulnerable youths who were unable to progress beyond Form 4 and those facing financial hardship.

Last month, Sh258.4 million was disbursed to 10,337 youths in Nairobi, Kiambu and Kajiado during a colourful ceremony presided over by the President at Kasarani stadium.

On February 2, more than Sh220 million was disbursed to youths in Kisumu, Siaya and Homa Bay. Further disbursements have been lined up for Kilifi, Lamu, Tana River, Mombasa, Kwale, Taita Taveta and other regions.

Participants are required to undergo a two-month mentorship programme and use the funds strictly for business. Successful projects qualify for additional funding.

One beneficiary, Dennis Ochieng from Mathare, says the launch in Nairobi has placed him on the path to business ownership and self-employment, while also creating opportunities for other youths in the area.

He explains that, as the firstborn in a family of five, he was unable to pursue further education due to financial constraints, as his parents prioritised educating his younger siblings. He decided to think outside the box.

After visiting a cousin in Mathare, Ochieng remained in Nairobi, where he began working as a casual labourer at construction sites.

“I could not just sit and watch the President launch the programme in Nairobi without being part of the youth,” he says.

Many young people from Mathare who share similar experiences have described the initiative as one of the best things to have happened to them. They say it has helped many youths in informal settlements move away from crime and into business.

Using his savings and additional borrowing from the Hustler Fund, Ochieng bought a photocopy machine and a desktop computer.

“I am still starting out in business, which would not have been possible before. Getting such an amount at once was impossible. A shylock would be knocking on my door by now, but Nyota is truly a game changer for me and my colleagues,” he says.

He is also undertaking a five-month apprenticeship programme, where participants are trained by industry experts.

Upon completion, Ochieng and others will receive formal recognition of their skills through Trade Testing assessments by the National Industrial Training Authority. This will enable them to secure formal employment or expand their businesses, thereby creating more jobs.

President Ruto and Deputy President Prof Kithure Kindiki have reiterated that the Kenya Kwanza administration is committed to uplifting ordinary Kenyans and creating millions of job opportunities both locally and abroad.

Otieno is a youth leader in Mathare and a small-scale entrepreneur