The National Assembly’s Committee on Labour, led by Hon. Muchangi Karemba (Runyenjes), has called on the Ministry of Labour to ramp up public sensitization efforts regarding the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) project. This call came during a retreat between the committee and the ministry, aimed at reviewing the ministry’s initiatives and fostering collaboration to improve service delivery.
Hon. Karemba stressed the importance of increasing awareness at the constituency level to ensure that the NYOTA project reaches its intended beneficiaries. "People at the constituency level need to understand what NYOTA is and the criteria for selection. The Ministry must put more effort into creating awareness so that the project benefits the right individuals in the community," he said.
NYOTA, a government initiative funded by the World Bank, aims to enhance the livelihoods of Kenyan youth through a series of targeted interventions. The project seeks to improve youth employability, expand employment opportunities, and foster youth savings. Its key focus is on 830,000 vulnerable youths aged between 18 and 29 across the country, including refugee youth in Garissa and Turkana counties.
The Principal Secretary for the State Department of Labour and Skills Development, Shadrack Mwadime, emphasized the ministry's broader focus on expanding work opportunities for Kenyans both domestically and abroad. "We are working on signing more bilateral labor agreements with various countries to expand opportunities for Kenyans abroad. This sector significantly contributes to our economy through foreign income and investments from Kenyans working overseas," Mwadime told the committee.
The NYOTA project has been identified as a crucial intervention in addressing youth unemployment, particularly among those with an education level of Form 4 and below, who face barriers to advancing their skills. However, Mwadime also pointed out that funding remains a major challenge for the project’s effective implementation. "We need adequate resources allocated in the national budget to ensure the success of the program," he urged the committee.
The call for increased public awareness and funding comes as the ministry continues to focus on creating opportunities for youth empowerment and skill development across the country. As the NYOTA project gains momentum, the government remains committed to supporting the youth in their quest for economic independence and prosperity.
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