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MP Mark Nyamita defends Ruto’s NYOTA programme amid pushback
14th October, 2025 07:40 AM
Uriri MP Mark Nyamita has voiced strong support for President William Ruto’s National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) programme, terming it a promising initiative to tackle youth unemployment and uplift thousands of young Kenyans across the country.
In an interview on a local TV station on Tuesday, October 14, 2025, Nyamita lauded the programme for its focus on empowering small-scale entrepreneurs, particularly those in rural areas who often struggle to raise capital to kickstart their ventures.
Also Watch: Ruto unveils Ksh5B NYOTA youth fund, targets one million beneficiaries
“Look at how young people in the villages begin to start their businesses. They will look for 20,000 shillings, go and pay it to some of these guys who are giving motorbikes on credit, and once they do, they are given a motorbike, they are on the road, and they start earning,” he stated.
According to the legislator, any programme that provides youth with such startup capital deserves support, especially if it includes clear structures for vetting and sustainability.
“If they are looking for Ksh20,000 to start their business, anything that can give them 20,000 plus, for me, is a good one,” he said.
Also Watch: Nyoro Raises Alarm Over Rising Debt, Says Nyota Program Funded by Borrowed Money
The NYOTA programme is designed to support 100,000 young people across the country, with 70 beneficiaries drawn from each of Kenya’s 1,450 wards.
“My understanding of what is happening now is actually a pilot; it is 70 people per ward. Everyone gets a certain amount, they apply, and there is going to be a vetting process to see whether your business plan is well thought through,” Nyamita explained.
Where is viable alternative?
Nyamita emphasised that constructive criticism of the programme is welcome, but only if it is paired with viable alternatives.
“There is no criticism that should be welcomed to that in that regard, if that criticism is not also offering a different solution,” he said.
The programme, a partnership between the government and the World Bank, is a flagship youth empowerment initiative valued at Ksh5 billion.
Each successful applicant will receive a Ksh50,000 grant to kick-start their entrepreneurial ventures, opening up opportunities in business and enterprise.
Additionally, Ruto said the programme will also involve 90,000 youth who will be trained to gain job experience, 20,000 on recognition of prior learning, and another 600,000 who will be trained on Access to Government Procurement Opportunities (AGPO).
