For thousands of young mothers juggling motherhood and survival, the government’s new National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) programme promises more than hope and long-term stability.
Under the NYOTA programme, young women will now enjoy maternity support of up to Ksh16,000 through a savings-linked insurance plan designed to help them stay financially stable after childbirth.
The maternity package is part of a broader NYOTA plan that aims to transform the lives of more than 820,000 jobless youth across the country.
The five-year programme, co-funded with the World Bank, is seeking to increase employment opportunities and earnings for youths while inculcating a savings culture.
It is geared for youths between 18 and 29 years across the country, including refugees in gazetted camps in Garissa and Turkana counties. For persons living with disability, the age cap is 35 years.
To qualify, one must have no college or university education, not be employed through the Climate WorX Programme or the Kenya Youth Employment and Opportunities Project (KYEOP) and be available for the six months that the programme will run for.
According to the government, when someone joins the programme, they’re automatically registered in the Haba Haba savings scheme run by the National Social Security Fund (NSSF). Thus, money is automatically deducted and saved every month for six months of the programme.
This, the government says, is to start a habit of saving regularly while they work or train.
To incentivise them to save, the government, through NSSF, will reward them by adding double what they save, up to a maximum bonus of Ksh3,000, if a youth keeps saving every month for six months.
That is for all youths. For women, NYOTA includes a small maternity benefit to keep them financially stable while they take time off work or training.
According to the government, if a woman has saved at least Ksh400 a month for four months, that is at least Ksh1,600, she becomes eligible to receive Ksh4,000 per month for up to four months.
That is a total of Ksh16,000 during her maternity period.
NYOTA will equip 90,000 young people with real-world work experience through hands-on placements with employers and local artisans.
At the same time, 100,000 youth, 70 from each ward, will each receive Ksh50,000 as start-up capital to launch new businesses, giving them both funding and training to make their entrepreneurial journey.
More than 600,000 youth will also benefit from specialised AGPO training, empowering them to compete for and win government tenders, unlocking access to public procurement opportunities.
Applications for NYOTA are already open and will close on October 12. The process is fully digital.
How does one apply?
1. Dial the USSD code *254#
2. Select the NYOTA option
3. Fill in their personal and educational details
4. Choose a preferred option: training, entrepreneurship or skill recognition, and await confirmation for further processing.
Please note, the government will lock out Hustler Fund defaulters from NYOTA.
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