Justina Wamae: NYOTA Ksh50K grants will end up in keg joints
By Faith Lagat, October 13, 2025Former Roots Party deputy presidential aspirant Justina Wamae has raised concerns over the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) programme, cautioning that Ksh50,000 grants intended to empower unemployed youth could be misused.
In an X post on October 13, 2025, Wamae warned, “NYOTA grants will land in KEG joints if the beneficiaries will be issued without proper scrutiny. Wish they signed a Portfolio Guarantee agreement with local banks.”
She further questioned the funding source, adding, “NYOTA is a loan of Ksh5 Billion. World Bank people don’t give us a free grant?”
Programme design and implementation
The NYOTA initiative, a five-year programme supported by the World Bank and the Kenyan government, targets 820,000 youth aged 18-29, including up to 35 persons with disabilities.
The scheme combines skills training, mentorship, and grants to foster entrepreneurship.
The flagship initiative is specifically designed to enhance youth employability, entrepreneurship, and long-term financial resilience.
The House Committee, led by Thika Town Member of Parliament Alice Ng’ang’a, affirmed its commitment to ensuring that young people are not only trained but meaningfully absorbed into the economy through coordinated government support, strategic partnerships, and increased budget prioritisation.
Already, more than 46,000 applicants have completed the Entrepreneurship Aptitude Test nationwide, with thousands progressing to Business Development Services training and auto-enrolment into NSSF’s Haba Haba scheme.
Concerns over oversight and sustainability
However, committee members acknowledged persistent challenges, including high demand versus available resources, documentation barriers in marginalised regions and procurement delays.
To bridge these gaps, the Committee pledged to champion stronger parliamentary advocacy, increased budget allocation and enhanced awareness campaigns across constituencies. Collaboration with counties, private sector players and digital engagement platforms will be key to accelerating implementation.
Despite the programme’s potential, concerns over execution persist. Embakasi North MP James Gakuya, on a television talk show on October 7, 2025, questioned its sustainability, stating, “The Ksh 50,000 given to the youth under the NYOTA Programme is free, but ultimately, taxpayers will repay the money to the World Bank.”
Gakuya cautioned that insufficient oversight could result in funds being diverted, echoing Wamae’s warnings about misuse at entertainment spots like KEG joints.
Marakwet West MP Timothy Kipchumba called for action against rogue employment agencies during the Iten launch, while Andrew Kemboi from the National Employment Authority highlighted over 300,000 job opportunities available on the authority’s website.