Nearly half of Kenyans believe the eligibility criteria for the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) Fund are unfair, exposing a trust gap in one of the government’s most ambitious youth empowerment initiatives. An opinion poll by Infotrak Research and Consulting found that 46 percent of respondents see no fairness in how beneficiaries are selected. Only 44 percent said the criteria are fair, while 10 percent remain unsure. The findings suggest that despite NYOTA’s scale and financing, public confidence in its administration is far from settled.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The poll, conducted on January 24, 2026, surveyed 800 adult Kenyans across all 47 counties. It carries a margin of error of ±3.46 percent at a 95 percent confidence level. While the results show a near-even split nationally, deeper analysis reveals sharp regional and demographic divides that complicate the picture.
Regional disparities dominate perceptions
Perceptions of fairness vary significantly by region, pointing to uneven experiences with the fund. The Coast region recorded the highest level of dissatisfaction, with 56 percent of respondents saying the eligibility criteria are unfair. Only 36 percent in the region considered the process fair, while seven percent were undecided.
This contrasts sharply with North Eastern Kenya, where confidence in the fund was strongest. There, 58 percent of respondents believe the criteria are fair, compared to 33 percent who disagreed and eight percent who were unsure. The regional divergence raises questions about whether implementation and outreach differ across counties.
Gender gap adds another layer
The poll also highlights notable gender differences in perception. Half of all women surveyed said the criteria are unfair, compared to 44 percent of men. Conversely, 47 percent of male respondents viewed the system as fair, against 41 percent of women.
These figures suggest that women may be encountering barriers or exclusions not as visible to their male counterparts. Given that youth unemployment disproportionately affects young women, perceptions of unfairness could undermine the program’s credibility among a key target group.
What the poll methodology reveals
Infotrak used a Population Proportionate to Size sampling frame guided by the 2019 census, ensuring national representation. By covering all counties, the poll captures both urban and rural perspectives on NYOTA’s administration. As both sponsor and financier of the study, Infotrak disclosed its role, a factor policymakers may weigh when interpreting the results.
The near-even national split indicates not outright rejection, but widespread uncertainty and skepticism. Analysts note that such divisions often emerge when program objectives are clear, but implementation is perceived as opaque or inconsistent.
Inside the NYOTA program
The NYOTA Project is a five-year government initiative financed by the World Bank. It aims to unlock the economic potential of young Kenyans by tackling unemployment, expanding income-generating opportunities, and promoting savings and entrepreneurship. The program targets 820,000 unemployed youth aged 18 to 29, with an upper age limit of 35 for persons with disabilities, and focuses on those with a Form Four education or below.
The scale of the program makes it one of the largest youth-focused interventions in Kenya’s recent history. That scale also increases scrutiny, particularly around who qualifies and who is left out.
Four pillars under pressure
NYOTA operates through four main interventions. The first focuses on improving employability by equipping 90,000 youth with in-demand skills and certifying 20,000 through recognition of prior learning. This component is guided by real-time labor market data, aiming to align training with actual demand.
The second pillar supports entrepreneurship, targeting 110,000 young people with training, business capital, mentorship, and access to financial services. A third component encourages savings, providing 190,000 beneficiaries with financial literacy and incentives to build a savings culture. The final intervention seeks to strengthen youth employment systems, including digital training for 600,000 young people on accessing government opportunities.
Perception versus policy intent
Despite these clearly defined components, the poll suggests that many Kenyans question how fairly access is determined. Critics argue that eligibility criteria may be sound on paper but unevenly applied in practice. Others point to limited communication, political influence at local levels, or lack of transparency in beneficiary selection as possible drivers of mistrust.
Supporters of the program counter that large-scale initiatives inevitably face perception challenges, especially in their early phases. They argue that regional and gender differences may reflect varying levels of awareness rather than systemic bias.
Implications for policymakers
The findings present a dilemma for policymakers and implementing agencies. With almost half the population doubting fairness, the risk is not just reputational but operational. Perceived unfairness can discourage eligible youth from applying, weaken community support, and reduce the program’s long-term impact.
For a World Bank–financed initiative designed to foster inclusion and opportunity, trust is a critical asset. The poll’s insights suggest that improving transparency, communication, and local accountability may be as important as funding and program design.
Trust as the next frontier
Ultimately, the Infotrak poll does not condemn the NYOTA Fund outright. Instead, it highlights a fragile balance between optimism and skepticism. Whether the program succeeds may depend less on its stated goals and more on how convincingly it addresses perceptions of fairness across regions and demographics.
As Kenya continues to invest heavily in youth empowerment, NYOTA’s experience could shape how future programs are designed, communicated, and evaluated.
