NYOTA Fund Payout Triggers Youth Protests in Kisii Over Reduced Stipends

Tension erupted in Kisii County after young people enrolled in a government youth empowerment programme protested over reduced payments. The demonstrations involved beneficiaries of the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement, who accused organisers of failing to honour agreed stipends.

The protests broke out in Nyaribari Chache constituency, where hundreds of participants had gathered for training activities. The youths said they were promised KSh1,000 per day but instead received KSh300, sparking anger and frustration among them.

The unrest began in the evening and continued for several hours as the group demanded clarity on the payout process. Many participants said they were left confused after being told about delays and system issues affecting payments.

One of the beneficiaries, Abraham Wafula, expressed disappointment over the situation and lack of communication from officials. “There has been an issue with communication since this programme started,” he said. “We were told we would get payment for two days, but they only gave us KSh300. What is KSh300?”

Some youths said they travelled long distances, including from Nairobi, expecting proper training allowances and support under the programme. They accused organisers of poor coordination and failing to give clear timelines for fund disbursement.

The NYOTA programme is a national initiative aimed at reducing youth unemployment through training, financial support, and business development opportunities. It targets hundreds of thousands of young people across the country as part of a long-term empowerment strategy.

Officials recently rolled out a new phase of training across multiple constituencies, but dissatisfaction has emerged in some regions over payment delays and reduced stipends. The Kisii incident now highlights growing concerns among participants.

Despite the protests, the youths insisted they will continue pushing for accountability until their grievances are addressed. They called for transparency in how funds are managed and distributed to beneficiaries.

Authorities have not yet issued a detailed response to the protests, but the situation underscores rising pressure on the programme as expectations remain high among unemployed youth relying on it for economic relief.