The State Department for Youth Affairs and Creative Economy has today launched component one of the NYOTA project that targets 90,000 beneficiaries. In a press briefing at Talanta Plaza, PS Fikirini Jacobs announced the reopening of applications for the On-the-Job Experience (OJE) programme beginning 29th January 2026. The OJE component is focused on young people who lack formal education or skills, offering them six months of hands-on training followed by six months of industrial placement. The programme will also accord the beneficiaries one year of practical experience in which participants will receive a monthly stipend of KES 6,000 over the training period.
Applications have been reopened via the USSD code *254# and will run for 2 weeks from 29th Jan-13th Feb, to allow for more youth to apply, including those who might have missed the opportunity earlier. The PS added that Nyota also includes business support ingredient, skills certification through national industrial authority (NITA), procurement training, and support for youth-led enterprises; targeting 820,000 young people nationwide. The project is creating clear pathways to local and international employment for youth who previously had limited opportunities