Government to closely monitor NYOTA Fund beneficiaries as PS Fikirini warns against misuse of youth grants

The government has unveiled new accountability and monitoring measures to ensure that youth beneficiaries of the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) program use the funds responsibly.

Principal Secretary for Youth Affairs and the Creative Economy, Fikirini Jacobs, said the state has put in place a rigorous audit and evaluation system to track how the grants are utilised.

Speaking on Tuesday, October 14, PS Jacobs explained that the initiative will be managed differently from previous government projects that faced accountability challenges.

“We’ve said we’ll do things differently. We have consultants to guide young people in business and youth officers in every sub-county to monitor progress,” the PS noted.

The PS emphasized that while the government is prepared to empower young entrepreneurs, applicants must also take personal responsibility for using the money appropriately.

“Before the government gets involved, you have a responsibility to ensure that this money is used properly. We’re not forcing anyone into business these are youths who applied voluntarily, undertook training, and passed the Entrepreneurial Aptitude Test,” he added.

Jacobs further clarified the criteria for selecting NYOTA beneficiaries, noting that the program primarily targets youths whose education ended at the high school level.

“Those with higher or college education will not be prioritized because the project focuses on young people who lack access to other employment opportunities,” he stated.

He revealed that while over 1.1 million youth have already applied for the grant, the final selection will involve a randomized system to ensure fairness.

“The system will automatically shortlist 200,000 eligible applicants to account for replacements, even though only 100,000 will benefit,” he said.

The NYOTA programme, a five-year initiative funded by the World Bank, aims to tackle youth unemployment, income insecurity, and limited savings across the country.

Under the scheme, each of Kenya’s 1,450 wards will have 70 young people receiving Ksh50,000 each to launch and grow their business ventures.

According to PS Jacobs, the initiative marks a major shift in the government’s approach to youth empowerment one that combines financial support with accountability, mentorship, and capacity building.