Validation exercise to be held on Friday, October 24, 2025, in all 290 constituencies. NYOTA Project aims to empower vulnerable youth with entrepreneurship training and Sh50,000 start-up grants.
The government has announced a physical validation exercise for the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) Project, which will be held on Friday, October 24, 2025, at all constituency headquarters across the country.
The NYOTA initiative, funded by the World Bank, is a five-year program designed to uplift vulnerable youth through entrepreneurship training, mentorship, and access to Sh50,000 start-up grants.
According to Cooperatives and MSMEs Cabinet Secretary Dr Wycliffe Oparanya, the validation marks a critical step in ensuring only qualified youth benefit from the program.
“The physical validation exercise seeks to confirm the authenticity and eligibility of applicants to ensure only genuine and qualified youth are selected to benefit,” said Dr Oparanya.
The verification process will confirm each applicant’s residency, education level, employment status, gender, and disability, with only those who appear in person considered eligible.
Applicants are required to complete the Entrepreneurship Aptitude Test (EAT) by sending the word NYOTA to 40270, answering 19 SMS-based questions before Friday noon.
The test is free of charge and available in multiple languages. There will be no repeat exercise.
The validation will be overseen by Principal Secretaries, National Government Administrative Officers (NGAOs), and local leaders under a whole-of-government approach.
Persons with Disabilities must present their National ID and disability card for verification.
After a three-day review, the final list of beneficiaries will be released, followed by training and induction sessions before the grant disbursement phase.
The NYOTA Project targets over 820,000 youth aged 18–29 years (and up to 35 for Persons with Disabilities) across 1,450 wards.
Its four main pillars include: Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), On-Job Experience (OJE), Business Support, and Digital Training on Access to Government Procurement Opportunities (AGPO) via the e-GP platform
Dr Oparanya emphasised the government’s dedication to empowering youth and promoting inclusive economic growth:
“This initiative is not just about funding youth enterprises; it’s about creating sustainable livelihoods and empowering young Kenyans to drive national transformation.”
