The Micro and Small Enterprises Authority (MSEA) joined national stakeholders and youth in celebrating International Youth Day 2025, held at Masinde Muliro University Grounds in Kakamega County. The event, graced by H.E. President Dr. William Samoei Ruto, highlighted the government’s commitment to expanding opportunities for young people through enterprise, skills development, and inclusive growth.
In his keynote address, the President spoke extensively about the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) Project, describing it as a transformative initiative designed to unlock the potential of young people by tackling unemployment, creating income-generating opportunities, and nurturing a culture of savings and entrepreneurship. He announced that the first cohort of 54,000 beneficiaries under the Business Support intervention will receive their initial tranche of business capital next month, following successful completion of business skills training. He noted that the NYOTA Project attracted more than one million applications for this support, against an initial target of 100,000. To ensure that opportunities reach beyond the first group of beneficiaries, he explained that the remaining applicants will be absorbed into another intervention focused on equipping youth with the knowledge and skills to access Government Procurement Opportunities (AGPO) and take advantage of available markets.
PS, State Department of Youth Affairs and Creative Economy Hon. Fikirini Jacobs, and The First Daughter, Ms. Charlene Ruto, engaging with the youth at the event.
Alongside business support, the President highlighted additional interventions of the NYOTA Project. The On-the-Job Experience program will prepare young people for the workplace by equipping them with socio-emotional and work-readiness skills, while also providing practical exposure through apprenticeships. In addition, the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) initiative will certify 20,000 young people for skills acquired through informal or non-formal training, enabling them to leverage these qualifications for better opportunities.
NYOTA National Project Manager, Mr. Augustine Mayabi and Mr. Patrick Kamenyi, Component 2 Project Coordinator, engaging with the youth. (Left)
Reaffirming the government’s broader vision, President Ruto noted that empowering young people remains central to the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda. He emphasized that by scaling up initiatives such as NYOTA, the government is committed to ensuring youth have the tools, resources, and opportunities to fully participate in and drive national development.
The International Youth Day celebrations in Kakamega reflected not only the challenges young people face but also the bold steps being taken to position them as key actors in economic and social transformation.
Pictorial from the International Youth Day Celebrations.
