NYOTA Opens Applications for Component 1 On-The-Job Experience (OJE), Targets 90,000 Beneficiaries Nationwide
NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan 31 – Government has officially opened applications for the On-the-Job Experience (OJE) component of the NYOTA Project which has commenced on January 31, 2026 targeting 90,000 beneficiaries, the recruitment window will remain active for a duration of two weeks, providing a vital opportunity for eligible candidates to gain practical industry exposure
Principal Secretary State Department for Youth Affairs and Creative Economy Fikirini Jacobs while addressing the media in Nairobi said the initiative is designed for young adults between the ages of 18 and 30, extending the eligibility to 35 for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) to ensure inclusive access.
It specifically seeks participants who have not progressed beyond a secondary school level of education and are currently lacking steady work or are working in low-paying, unstable positions. Prospective candidates from all regions across the country are encouraged to submit their applications.
PS Jacobs noted that the OJE programme is an intensive half-year professional residency crafted to bridge the skills gap by offering; Immersive, industry-aligned field experience, One-on-one coaching and professional development workshops Nationally recognized accreditation and competency assessments with a monthly subsistence allowance of KES 6,000 to support daily logistics.
Applications have been reopened via the USSD code *254# and will run for 2 weeks from 29th Jan-13th Feb, to allow for more youth to apply, including those who might have missed the opportunity earlier.
Eligible youth are encouraged to apply and seize this opportunity to acquire market-relevant skills, certification, and clear pathways to employment, in line with the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).
PS added that Nyota also includes business support ingredient, skills certification through national industrial authority (NITA), procurement training and support for youth-led enterprises; targeting 820,000 young people nationwide.
He further noted that the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation is not just a slogan but a people-centred development model that places youth at the heart of Kenya’s economic growth.
“The NYOTA Project represents a deliberate shift from the traditional trickle-down approach to a framework that empowers young people at the base of the economy by unlocking opportunities through business start-ups, skilling, and certification”, said Fikirini Jacobs.
“By strengthening household incomes and supporting job creation, NYOTA is translating the Bottom-Up agenda into tangible impact, ensuring that development begins from the villages,wards and rises all the way to the top”.
