Uasin Gishu County’s Department of Lands, Physical Planning, Housing, and Urban Development is leading an effort to sensitize youth in informal settlements about opportunities available under the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) programme.
The initiative is part of the Kenya Informal Settlement Improvement Programme (KISIP), aimed at enhancing socio-economic inclusion for young people.
Beatrice Menjo, the Director coordinating KISIP’s Component 2 on Socio-Economic Inclusion, emphasized the programme’s importance in providing skills and employment opportunities for youth in informal settlements.
The campaign has already reached Maili Nne, Mwanzo, and Shauri Yako informal settlements, where youth are being educated on the various opportunities available through NYOTA, which includes skill development with the National Industrial Training Authority (NITA).
Douglas Momanyi from NITA highlighted that the program targets youth aged 18-29 and those living with disabilities aged 18-35. The training focuses on areas such as welding, hairdressing, and other vocational skills that provide tangible job opportunities for the youth.
Helen Yano, the Youth Officer for Turbo Sub-County, urged youth to take advantage of this initiative, explaining that those with NITA certifications should visit the nearest youth office to register for the NYOTA programme.
She stressed that youth under the age of 35 can register and become part of the programme.
“For those who have not had the chance to join colleges due to financial constraints, the NITA program offers a great opportunity to acquire valuable skills in various trades,” Yano said. “For instance, a certified plumber can earn up to KSh 1,500 per day working on construction sites. Yet many youth are unaware of such opportunities.”
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Meanwhile, director Menjo noted that the affordable housing program, which is part of the Governor’s broader goals, offers daily pay for skilled workers with certification, a rate of KSh 1,200 per day for certified workers.
The county is also working on a plan to form a youth Sacco, which would help market their skills collectively.
Menjo further addressed the issue of betting, which has been a major issue affecting the growth of many youths.
“The programme aims to shift the youth’s focus from short-term gains to long-term, sustainable skills development. This is an opportunity for youth to embrace real, meaningful change,” she added. “We urge the youth to take advantage of these programmes as they offer the chance to secure a better future.”
The NYOTA programme, supported by KISIP, is seen as a step forward in empowering the youth of Uasin Gishu County, offering not only skills but also the potential for employment in ongoing projects, including the affordable housing initiative.
With opportunities like this, the county hopes to see a more engaged, skilled, as well as, economically empowered generation.
