MPs fault Oparanya, Mvurya over delays in NYOTA grants rollout
By Cy Muganda, August 27, 2025Members of Parliament have questioned Cooperatives and MSMEs Development Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya and Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya over the slow implementation of the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) programme.
In a statement posted on their Facebook account on Tuesday, August 26, 2025, Parliament announced that the National Assembly Committee on Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, chaired by Vice Chairperson Marianne Kitany (Aldai), had received a briefing on the multi-billion shilling youth empowerment project targeting youths, at Bunge Towers, Nairobi.
“The Committee questioned the Cabinet Secretary for Cooperatives and MSMEs Development, Wycliffe Oparanya and his Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports counterpart, Salim Mvurya, on the roll-out of the programme,” the statement reads.
Slow implementation concerns
According to Parliament, legislators expressed concern about the sluggish pace of implementing the ambitious youth empowerment project, as well as the requirements set for youths to access the funds.
“Members expressed concern about the slow implementation of the multi-billion shilling youth empowerment project,” the statement noted.
“They also raised issues with some of the requirements set for youths before they can access the funds,” it added.
NYOTA programme
Parliament explained that the NYOTA program aims to assist 70 youths in each of the 1,450 wards across the country by providing a grant of Ksh50,000 to either start or expand their businesses.
“The NYOTA project is a scaled-up version of the Kenya Youth Empowerment Program (KYEOP), and targets over 100,000 youths with business ideas,” the statement indicated.
Under this program, each successful applicant will receive Ksh50,000, allocated in two installments, along with training and mentorship.
Specifically, applicants will receive Ksh25,000 in each of the two installments, accompanied by Business Development Services (BDS) training and mentorship.
“The programme focuses on youth aged 18 to 29, and up to 35 years for persons with disabilities, particularly those with secondary education or lower, including school dropouts,” Parliament added.