Members of Parliament have raised concern over the slow implementation of the multi-billion shilling National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) programme.
The National Assembly Committee on Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, chaired by Vice Chairperson Aldai MP Marianne Kitany, received a briefing on the project.
The Committee questioned Cabinet Secretary for Cooperatives and MSMEs Development Wycliffe Oparanya and his Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports counterpart Salim Mvurya on the roll-out of the programme.
Lawmakers expressed frustration that the programme, which was designed to benefit thousands of young people across the country, is yet to take off fully.
They also criticized some of the requirements set for youths before they can access the funds, saying they risk locking out many deserving applicants.
The NYOTA programme is an ambitious initiative that seeks to empower 70 youths in each of the 1,450 wards across the country.
Each beneficiary will receive a grant of Sh50,000 to start or expand a business.
The funds will be disbursed in two instalments of Sh25,000, and recipients will also benefit from Business Development Services (BDS) training and mentorship to help them manage and grow their enterprises.
According to the Ministry, the project builds on the earlier Kenya Youth Empowerment Programme (KYEOP) and is targeting over 100,000 young people with viable business ideas.
The programme focuses on youth aged between 18 and 29 years, with persons with disabilities allowed to apply up to the age of 35. It specifically targets those with secondary education or lower, including school dropouts.
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