Lawyer Willis Otieno has blamed the current administration for coming up with uninformed policies to tackle the youth unemployment crisis in the country.

Taking to X on Wednesday, October 29, 2025, Otieno said the present administration does not understand what the current generation needs to get over the state of joblessness amid the evolving technology.

”One major problem that the youth are facing is a lack of employment, which has resulted from poor economic planning, misallocation of resources, and a lack of investment in industries that can absorb young talent,” Otieno said.

Suitable means

Willis Otieno said young people in the country have the potential to improve their lives in the fields of technology, agriculture and renewable energy. He, however, added that the government have instead put their emphasis on outdated modes in terms of salvaging the sickening situation.

”Instead of creating environments where young people can thrive through industries like tech, renewable energy, and sustainable agriculture, Kenya Kwisha continues to rely on outdated economic models. Leaving young people with few opportunities and no clear path forward,” Willis Otieno said.

NYOTA project

Otieno’s remarks come at a moment when the state has embarked on empowering the youth for self-sustainability through the provision of Ksh50,000 grant under the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) programme.

The flagship initiative is specifically designed to enhance youth employability, entrepreneurship, and long-term financial resilience.

The National Assembly Committee on Social Protection, 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.

NYOTA is a five-year programme backed by the government and the World Bank, targeting over 820,000 young people with pathways to skills development, savings culture and dignified work. 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.

Meanwhile, speaking during the roll-out of the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) project at the State House, Nairobi, on Wednesday, October 1, 2025, President William Ruto asked Principal Secretaries to prepare for the nationwide implementation of the multi-billion shilling initiative to curb joblessness among the youth at the grassroots.

”We are committed to investing in our young people by driving policies and programmes that expand opportunities in both employment and business. In partnership with the World Bank, we are rolling out the Ksh5 billion National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) Project, a flagship initiative that will support 100,000 youth nationwide, with 70 beneficiaries identified from each of the country’s 1,450 wards,” Ruto announced.