The Cabinet has endorsed the launch of the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) Project, a flagship government and World Bank initiative targeting over 820,000 vulnerable and unemployed youth, including persons with disabilities, following a meeting chaired by President William Ruto.
This comes weeks after NYOTA invited interested candidates to apply for jobs and training opportunities.
Structured into four components, the project includes paid on-the-job training, entrepreneurship support, and Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) certification.
According to the Cabinet despatch on Tuesday, July 29, the NYOTA on-the-job experience programme component targets 90,000 youth with monthly stipends of Ksh6,000.
The monthly stipends will be deposited into Haba Haba savings accounts and the youth will be placed with different employers for 3 to 6 months.
“In line with the government’s plan to create employment and opportunities for the youth, the Cabinet endorsed the August 2025 launch of the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) Project. The programme aims to enhance employability, skills recognition, and access to decent work, and is a key pillar of the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda,” reads part of the despatch.
“The ongoing call for the On-the-Job Experience programme targets 90,000 youth for three- to six-month paid placements with employers, with monthly stipends of KSh6,000 deposited into Haba Haba savings accounts.”
Applications were opened on July 11 with the deadline set for August 15, 2025. Currently, over one million applications have been received.
How to Apply for NYOTA program
To apply, dial *254#. A prompt will appear—select NYOTA Project (Option 3).
Next, choose “Apply for NYOTA” (Option 1).
You will then be asked to select your preferred category under the program—choose On-the-Job Experience.
Follow the next prompt to apply, then accept the terms and conditions.
You will be required to answer a few questions:
- Do you have a disability?
- What is your highest level of education?
- Is the number you are using the one they can contact you on?
After completing these steps, submit your application. You will receive a confirmation message on your phone regarding your eligibility.
Also Read: NYOTA Program Announces Training & Job Opportunities for Form 4 Leavers
Applicants have been warned not to pay for any services under the NYOTA Project, as all programs are provided free of charge.
Other Cabinet resolutions
Meanwhile, the Cabinet ratified the transfer of Amboseli National Park to the County Government of Kajiado, fulfilling a presidential directive following a petition by the Maasai community.
The transfer, executed under Article 187 of the Constitution, introduces a phased co-management model in which Kajiado County assumes operational control while Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) retains national conservation responsibilities.
“The National Treasury will compensate KWS for any revenue losses, with a portion of park income still allocated to national conservation. The move is intended to empower local communities, promote sustainable stewardship, and ensure equitable sharing of ecological and economic benefits,” the despatch adds.
Additionally, the Cabinet approved the Power of Mercy Bill, 2025, which aims to clarify the implementation of Article 133 of the Constitution and modernise the presidential pardon system.
The proposed law introduces a structured, accountable framework for pardons, including mechanisms for supervised early release of fully rehabilitated inmates.
These reforms are expected to ease prison overcrowding and reduce the estimated annual cost of KSh87,600 per inmate. The Bill also enhances public safety through reintegration protocols and repeals outdated provisions under Cap. 94, reinforcing the mandate of the Power of Mercy Advisory Committee.
On electrification, the Cabinet has given the nod to the implementation of Phase III of the Last Mile Connectivity Project, targeting 180,500 new electricity connections for households, schools, health centres, and MSMEs, while strengthening Kenya’s distribution grid.
Also Read: Ruto’s Cabinet Approves Sale of Kenya Pipeline Company
The project addresses key challenges, including high connection costs, underutilised transformers, and weak infrastructure in remote areas.
Implemented in partnership with the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the Canada-AfDB Climate Fund, the programme will give priority to counties with low electricity access and no prior support from similar initiatives.
It will also optimise use of idle transformers and reinforce strained substations to improve reliability.
Phase III of the Last Mile Connectivity Project
The project is expected to deliver broad socio-economic benefits, including access to clean and affordable power for marginalised communities, round-the-clock health services, enhanced learning through digital tools, and support for over 10,500 MSMEs through three-phase power connections.
Energy security was further boosted by the approval of the Olkaria VII Geothermal Power Project, a strategic initiative that will inject 80.3MW of clean, reliable baseload electricity into the national grid by June 2027.
The project will tap 19 production wells, with plans for seven more over its 25-year operational life and will ensure sustainability through the reinjection of geothermal fluids.
Olkaria VII is designed to meet Kenya’s rising energy demands driven by population growth, industrial expansion in Special Economic Zones, and the rapid uptake of electric vehicles.
With annual power demand projected to grow by 100MW, and EV energy needs expected to reach 334MW by 2032, the plant will play a critical role in supporting this shift. Kenya’s industrial strategy will also require over 1,000MW in new capacity by 2032.
The project, to be undertaken in partnership with the Government of Japan and the European Investment Bank, will help reduce reliance on costly and polluting fossil fuels, while reinforcing Kenya’s position as a regional leader in renewable energy.
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on Tuesday, July 29, 2025. PHOTO/PCS
