The World Bank has shed light on the reasons behind its decision to back Kenya’s National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) programme, citing unemployment as the country’s most urgent development hurdle.
Speaking at the programme’s official launch in Malindi, Kilifi County, World Bank Country Director for Kenya, Qimiao Fan, said the initiative was deliberately designed to tackle the persistent challenge of joblessness among young people.
Fan noted that employment creation sits at the centre of the World Bank’s engagement with Kenya, describing NYOTA as a direct intervention aimed at boosting job opportunities. “This programme matters because jobs remain the single biggest development issue facing Kenya today. That is why the World Bank chose to support it,” he said.
He emphasised that the institution’s focus in Kenya is sharply defined. “Our work here is about jobs — creating them, expanding them, and making them inclusive. Beyond supporting the implementation of NYOTA, our broader programme is fully aligned with helping Kenya generate sustainable employment,” Fan added.
According to the World Bank director, the true measure of NYOTA’s success will not be the number of participants enrolled, but the programme’s ability to enhance employability, support enterprise creation, and enable beneficiaries to create jobs for others.
Launched in July 2025, the NYOTA initiative is structured around four key pillars, including paid workplace placements, entrepreneurship assistance, and Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) certification to validate existing skills.
The World Bank Board approved the project with financing amounting to approximately KSh29.5 billion, to be rolled out over a five-year period.
On implementation, the government has begun the final phase of fund disbursement across eight counties, a process expected to conclude within two weeks. Beneficiaries in Mombasa, Kwale, and Taita Taveta counties are scheduled to receive their funds in Mombasa on Friday, February 6.
In the North Eastern region, beneficiaries in Wajir County will receive payments on Wednesday, February 11, followed by those in Garissa County on Thursday, February 12, according to officials.
Meanwhile, public perception of the programme remains largely positive. A recent survey by research firm Infotrak found that most Kenyans believe the KSh50,000 NYOTA start-up grant is adequate to help young entrepreneurs launch small businesses and take their first steps toward self-employment.