The validation exercise for the NYOTA Program applicants at Raila Odinga Stadium in Homa Bay County drew thousands of young people eager to secure a spot in the government initiative.
Speaking during the event, Homa Bay County Director of Youth at the State Department for Youth Affairs, Elector Opar, said the exercise started smoothly but later encountered challenges. She noted that several youths expressed frustration after failing to complete the online aptitude test.
Her counterpart from the Youth Transition Initiative raised another concern, revealing that some university students were attempting to misrepresent themselves to qualify for the program.
Despite the challenges, many young participants praised the government for launching the NYOTA Program, describing it as a timely opportunity to empower and uplift youth in the region. They, however, appealed to the government to ensure transparency and fairness in the selection process.
The exercise having been deemed successful in all the eight constituencies in Homa Bay County, with no reports of any peculiar cases, below is the turnout per constituency;
- Homa Bay Town – 1675
- Rangwe – 822
- Kasipul – 795
- Kabondo Kasipul – 851
- Karachuonyo – 1475
- Ndhiwa – 1315
- Suba South – 576
- Suba North – 766
TOTAL VERIFIED = 8275
Deadline extended
Meanwhile, the government extended the NYOTA Project Entrepreneurship Aptitude Test (EAT) deadline from Friday, 24th October 2025, to Saturday, 25th October 2025.
MSMEs Principal Secretary Susan Mang’eni said the extension was made to ensure that every eligible applicant has an equal opportunity to complete the exercise, emphasising the government’s commitment to inclusivity and fairness in the ongoing youth empowerment initiative.
PS Mang’eni made the announcement while in Moiben Constituency, Uasin Gishu County, where she joined local leaders for the nationwide physical validation exercise currently taking place across all 290 constituency headquarters in the country.
