Kenyans divided over fairness of NYOTA project eligibility criteria

Public opinion regarding the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) project has exposed a significant divide in how Kenyans perceive the fairness of the initiative. A national survey released by Infotrak Research and Consulting indicates that 46 per cent of Kenyans believe the eligibility criteria for the program are not fair. This figure stands in narrow contrast to the 44 per cent who view the requirements as equitable, while 10 per cent of the population remains undecided. 

The NYOTA project, a five-year initiative supported by the World Bank and the Government of Kenya, aims to reach 820,000 vulnerable youth. The program provides business start-up capital, technical training, and apprenticeships, particularly focusing on those aged 18 to 29 with a Form Four level of education or below. Despite these objectives, the Infotrak data suggests that the specific requirements for participation are creating a sense of exclusion among a large portion of the target demographic.

Regional analysis within the report shows that skepticism is highest in the Coast region, where 56 per cent of respondents questioned the fairness of the criteria. Conversely, North Eastern Kenya recorded the highest levels of approval, with 58 per cent of residents in that region stating they believe the fund is administered fairly. These geographic variations point toward differing levels of confidence in how the government selects beneficiaries for its flagship youth empowerment schemes.

Gender also plays a role in how the program is perceived. The survey found that 50 per cent of women view the eligibility rules as unfair compared to 44 per cent of men. This disparity comes even as the program includes specific components such as maternity benefits and social security savings through the National Social Security Fund (NSSF). While the government recently disbursed Sh220 million to over 8,800 beneficiaries in the Lake Victoria region, the poll suggests that the underlying selection process remains a point of contention.

Transparency is another area where the public expressed reservations. Only 25 per cent of Kenyans described the application and selection process as very transparent. Meanwhile, 31 per cent rated it as not transparent, and 32 per cent found it somewhat transparent. These findings are significant for the construction and labor sectors, as NYOTA is designed to feed into broader infrastructure goals, including the provision of skilled labor for affordable housing projects and technical trades.

The survey was conducted on January 24, 2026, using a sample of 800 adult Kenyans across all 47 counties. While awareness of the fund is high at 78 per cent, the gap between visibility and perceived fairness suggests that policymakers may need to address the restrictive nature of the current age and education requirements to ensure broader public buy-in.