BY CENTRIN ODOYO

The NYOTA Fund, a government initiative aimed at empowering young people through business support and skills development, has continued to create opportunities for youths in Migori and neighbouring counties by helping them improve their livelihoods through entrepreneurship and vocational training.

The programme, which targets youth empowerment through start-up capital and technical skills, has supported thousands of young entrepreneurs across the country. In the region covering Kisii, Nyamira and Migori counties, a total of Sh220.5 million was disbursed to 8,820 beneficiaries during the first phase to support their businesses.

For Christine Atieno, a beneficiary from Migori County, the Sh22,000 received through the fund was more than just financial assistance; it was an opportunity to strengthen a small business she had already established and create a more reliable source of income.

Atieno says the money enabled her to expand her stall by introducing new products that were previously unavailable, including tomatoes, cooking oil and omena, which she says has improved her daily earnings.

“We were expecting Sh50,000 but unfortunately we got Sh22,000 in phase one, which is still a very good amount. Sincerely speaking, I used the money to expand my small business that had already existed by adding several items that were not in my stall before, hence increasing my profit,” she said.

She noted that the programme has changed the way some young people view economic independence, as many beneficiaries who previously relied on others for financial support can now generate their own income.

However, Atieno observed that beneficiaries continue to face challenges, including increased competition as more people venture into similar businesses.

“The challenge we are experiencing is competition, mainly healthy competition, since several people thought of the same business,” she said.

She added that the programme has also contributed to social changes among some youths by encouraging them to engage in productive activities.

“Since the start of the business, theft has reduced and prostitution has declined because we now have our own money unlike before when most of us depended on our boyfriends,” she added.

Beyond business funding, the NYOTA Fund has entered another phase focusing on skills development, where beneficiaries are undergoing training aimed at improving their chances of accessing employment opportunities and building sustainable careers.
Under this phase, youths are allowed to select courses based on their interests and career aspirations, with training offered in various fields. Beneficiaries also receive a monthly stipend of Sh6,000 during the training period to support their participation.

For Berryl Akinyi, one of the beneficiaries undergoing job experience training, the opportunity has provided her with practical skills that she believes will help her in the labour market and in pursuing her dream of owning a bakery.
Akinyi says beneficiaries were given the freedom to choose courses they were interested in, with options including catering, plumbing, salon and bakery.

“We were given the liberty to choose the course we wanted to do. We had four options, catering, plumbing, salon and bakery, but I was interested in baking. We mainly learn from experience, which means you have to be attached directly to a company and learn from there,” she said.

She said the programme has exposed her to practical knowledge beyond classroom training, including sales skills, financial management and understanding market trends.

“I have learned a lot which I can move with to the job market and even start my own business. Other than just the skill of bakery, you also learn experience such as sales from the company, which improves your financial management and ability to read the market,” Akinyi said.

According to her, NYOTA has provided an opportunity for young people who missed university education to acquire skills that can help them compete in the job market.

“Most people are against the programme, but us who never had a chance to go to campus, this is an opportunity to get a skill and recover what you might have missed in university,” she said.

Akinyi says after completing the training, she hopes not only to seek employment but also establish her own bakery and create opportunities for others.

“When I am done, I won’t just look for a job, but I will also try to build my dream bakery and give back to the community,” she said.

Despite the positive impact of the programme, some beneficiaries have raised concerns over challenges such as the distance between their homes and training centres, saying long journeys have increased transport expenses and affected attendance.

They have called on the government to consider establishing training centres closer to beneficiaries or providing additional support to reduce the burden of travelling costs.

Despite these challenges, beneficiaries say the NYOTA Fund has restored hope among young people by providing them with opportunities to either grow existing businesses or acquire skills that can improve their future prospects.

For many youths in Migori, the programme represents a pathway from dependency to self-reliance as they work towards building sustainable sources of income.