NYOTA Project Rolls Out Nationwide Youth Verification Exercise
By Peace Muthoka.
Nairobi, October 23, 2025. The government will on Friday, October 24, 2025, launch a nationwide physical verification exercise for the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) Project. The five-year initiative, funded by the World Bank, aims to transform the lives of vulnerable youth by creating jobs, boosting entrepreneurship, and promoting a culture of savings.
Speaking at NSSF Building in Nairobi, Cabinet Secretary for Cooperatives and MSME Development FCPA Dr. Wycliffe Ambetsa Oparanya described NYOTA as a turning point for young Kenyans. “This project is about giving our youth real opportunities to build sustainable livelihoods and become drivers of economic growth,” he said.
Under the Business Support Component, 100,000 young entrepreneurs will receive entrepreneurship training, mentorship, and start-up grants of KSh 50,000 each to start and grow their businesses. The physical verification will confirm the authenticity of applicants to ensure only genuine and qualified youth benefit.
During the exercise, officials will verify key details such as residency, education level, employment status, gender balance, and disability. They will also confirm that applicants are available to participate fully in the project. “Only those who present themselves physically will be considered for selection, and there will be no repeat exercise,” Dr. Oparanya emphasized.
The nationwide exercise will be led by Principal Secretaries, supported by elected leaders, National Government Administrative Officers, and the NYOTA Implementation Team through a whole-of-government approach. Each constituency will have validation centers with breakout stations organized by wards to ensure transparency and efficiency. Applicants must present their National Identity Cards, while persons with disabilities should carry their disability identification cards.
The Entrepreneurship Aptitude Test (EAT) remains a mandatory requirement for final selection. Youth who have not yet taken the test will be allowed to do so on-site. To take the test, applicants should send the word NYOTA to 40270 and follow the SMS prompts to answer 19 questions. The test is free, available in English and Kiswahili, and must be completed by Friday at noon.
Dr. Oparanya noted that the verification follows a successful pilot in Western Kenya and will run for one day in all 290 constituencies. Afterward, the NYOTA team will review the verification results and test performances over three days before announcing the final list of successful beneficiaries.
Once selected, the youth will undergo induction and training sessions to prepare them for the business start-up phase. The project targets 820,000 youth aged 18 to 29 years and up to 35 years for persons with disabilities across all 1,450 wards in Kenya.
Through its four key components, Recognition of Prior Learning, On-Job Experience, Business Support, and Digital Training on Access to Government Procurement Opportunities, NYOTA seeks to enhance employability, nurture entrepreneurship, and promote financial discipline among the youth.
“The government is committed to building a generation of empowered youth who can create their own opportunities and contribute to Kenya’s economic growth,” Dr. Oparanya affirmed.
