Thousands of energetic young people across Meru County turned out in large numbers on Friday for the launch of the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) programme, a flagship government initiative designed to tackle unemployment through entrepreneurship and practical skills training.
At the North Imenti NGCDF offices, long queues of hopeful youths formed early in the morning, each person eager to register and secure a spot in the transformative project.
Similar crowds were witnessed in all nine constituencies, highlighting the growing enthusiasm for the nationwide rollout of the NYOTA initiative.
Speaking during the event, North Imenti MP Rahim Dawood encouraged the youth to approach the programme with discipline and long-term vision.
“This money is not meant for luxury or short-term pleasures. If you invest it wisely, it can change your life and open doors to greater opportunities,” Dawood said.
Just two weeks earlier, Micro and Small Enterprises Authority (MSEA) Director General Mwenda Rithaa had convened a sensitization meeting at Kamunde Hall, where he explained how the programme will operate.
“Each ward will identify and support 70 young people. Every beneficiary will receive KSh 50,000 in seed capital. But beyond funding, NYOTA is about mindset change, innovation, and building sustainable enterprises,” Rithaa said.
The NYOTA programme is a joint venture between the Government of Kenya and the World Bank, running over five years.
It targets vulnerable youth aged 18–29, and up to 35 for persons living with disabilities, focusing on employability, financial inclusion, savings culture, and strengthening local employment systems.
MP Dawood commended President William Ruto and Deputy President Kithure Kindiki for prioritizing youth empowerment, noting that Meru County stands to gain significantly from the initiative.
He also praised North Imenti’s impressive track record with the Uwezo Fund, citing strong repayment rates and successful youth-led businesses.
“Some of our youth started with only KSh 20,000 and have grown their ventures enough to qualify for loans of up to KSh 500,000. I have even appealed to the Uwezo Fund CEO to raise the ceiling to KSh 700,000 so that more young entrepreneurs can scale up,” he said.
As NYOTA takes off, optimism runs high across Meru.
The programme is expected to inject fresh energy into the local economy, offering thousands of young people a renewed sense of purpose and a genuine chance to shape their own futures.
