Lodwar- October 6, 2025 (Public Communication and Media Relations)
The Deputy Governor, Dr John Erus, has directed all county field administrators to actively support the rollout of the Nyota program, a national youth empowerment initiative targeting vulnerable youth in all counties.
The enrollment period runs between October 6th and 12th, 2025.
Dr Erus issued the directive during the official launch of the program within the county, presided over by Principal Secretary for the State Department for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Susan Mang’eni. The launch was held at Lodwar Vocational and Training Centre, and was attended by the Turkana County Commissioner Julius Kavita and MP for Turkana Central Emathe Namuar.
DG instructed the county administration structure at all levels to work closely with their respective counterparts in national government to ensure all eligible youth are reached and registered.
Dr Erus emphasized that the county was determined to meet and surpass the national enrolment target.
Noting that Turkana had already established effective mechanisms for public sensitization, including mobilization through local leaders and partners, the DG explained that most youth from Turkana Central are reached through gatherings mobilised by county teams.
“The sensitization approach has proved very useful as it helps us to bridge the divide created by inaccessibility to network and internet,” he explained.
Dr Erus further instructed administrators to maintain traceable records of beneficiaries to help document the program’s impact on livelihoods and, reaffirmed that the county would continue complementing national efforts through its own empowerment funds, including the Youth and Women Fund and Enterprise Development Fund.
“We are prepared to go beyond the target because our youth urgently need these services to overcome poverty and transform their lives,” he added.
On her part, PS Mang’eni clarified the structure of the five-year Nyota program, describing it as a national strategy designed to provide grants, skills training, and business development support to young people aged 18–29 years urging the Turkana youth to register in large numbers and take advantage of the opportunities available.
The PS highlighted the initiative aims to reach over 820,000 young Kenyans nationwide to cultivate employability, entrepreneurship, and savings culture through the Micro and Small Enterprises Authority (MSEA). The PS also explained the affirmative action in favour of persons with disabilities whose age limit for eligibility runs to 35 years.
The PS further clarified that those who had registered during the March 2025 period have been covered, given their data already exists in the system.
Present were Vincent Palo (County NYOTA Coordinator), Joseph Epuu (County Chief Officer for Gender and Youth Affairs), Mollen Onderi (Deputy Director for Gender), and deputy county commissioners, host sub-County administrators, and chiefs.
