Training for thousands of youth selected under the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) Project officially kicked today across 25 counties.
Authorities are urging beneficiaries to stay alert amid a spike in fake mobile apps and fraudulent messages being circulated in the programme’s name.
According to the State Department for MSMEs Development, the four-day sessions will run in Kitui, Machakos, Makueni, Uasin Gishu, Trans Nzoia, West Pokot, Turkana, Baringo, Laikipia, Meru, Tharaka Nithi, Embu, Isiolo, Nakuru, Narok, Kajiado, Nandi, Siaya, Kisumu, Homa Bay, Migori, Kisii, Nyamira, Kericho and Bomet.
Only youth who have received official SMS invitations to attend Business Development Services (BDS) training are required to show up at the designated venues, MSMEs PS Susan Mageni clarified .
The project has also reiterated that it does not operate any mobile application for accessing funds and warned beneficiaries to stay vigilant.
“NYOTA Project has no fund app. The information circulating about a fund app is fake. Youth, let’s stay alert so we don’t fall victim to fraudsters,” read the statement in part.
This warning follows rising reports of fake M-PESA messages claiming to confirm NYOTA disbursements and directing unsuspecting youth to send money to unknown numbers.
The Micro and Small Enterprises Authority (MSEA) had earlier raised the alarm after receiving complaints from several counties.
“We have received reports of fraudulent M-PESA messages claiming youth have received funds from the NYOTA Project or NYOTA Foundation and prompting them to send money to unknown numbers,” MSEA said on October 27.
The Authority clarified that no M-PESA-linked payments have been made so far, stating: “NYOTA has not sent any M-PESA-related payments. All official SMS communication will only come from ‘Nyota Ke’ and through the project’s verified social media pages.” MSEA urged Kenyans to ignore and report any suspicious messages to curb further exploitation.
Meanwhile, preparations for the nationwide rollout are on track, with 63,231 youth expected to attend training across the 25 counties.
The programme, launched on November 7 in Mumias, aims to empower more than 100,000 vulnerable youth in all 1,450 wards through business training, mentorship, and phased disbursement of start-up capital.
Already, 12,155 beneficiaries from the Western region; Kakamega, Vihiga, Bungoma and Busia have received Ksh.303.8 million through NYOTA Pochi la Biashara after completing their first round of training.