World Bank Issues Statement Over Its NYOTA Partnership With Kenya
The World Bank has denied rumors circulating online that it had reaffirmed its relationship with the Kenyan government on the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) project.
In a brief statement issued on Wednesday, February 11, the lender stated that the paper being distributed on social media did not originate from it, and that the document’s contents were false and deceptive.
The global financial institution stated that it had not issued an official statement in response to former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s worries about the multibillion-dollar program.
“The World Bank Kenya wishes to clarify that the news release currently circulating regarding an alleged response to concerns about the NYOTA Kenya programme is fake,” the bank said.
The World Bank Kenya wishes to clarify that the News release currently circulating regarding an alleged response to concerns about the @NYOTA_Kenya program is fake.
— World Bank Kenya (@WorldBankKenya) February 11, 2026
No statement of that nature has been issued by the World Bank Kenya. pic.twitter.com/IZANjtnM3Z
“No statement of that nature has been issued by the World Bank Kenya.”
The forged letter, dated February 10 and crafted to resemble a World Bank press release, stated the lender had addressed remarks attributed to Gachagua and reiterated support for the NYOTA scheme.
According to the flagged news release, the lender praised President William Ruto’s administration’s dedication to ensuring equal access to the program for all eligible youth nationally.
It further claimed that the World Bank advised authorities to exercise caution and avoid politicizing development projects aimed at creating jobs and empowering young people.
The document was widely distributed on different social media sites, particularly X, over the majority of Tuesday and Wednesday, eliciting diverse reactions from internet users.
The World Bank urged the public to rely only on information published through its official communication channels and warned against the spread of such misinformation.
The World Bank’s latest clarification comes a day after the government dismissed claims that the NYOTA Fund programme was riddled with irregularities.
The NYOTA program is a World Bank program happening in other African countries like Angola, Mozambique, Nigeria, Senegal, Benin and Togo – Gachagua pic.twitter.com/5UNqzQddYO
— Kenyans.co.ke (@Kenyans) February 10, 2026
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They insisted that the initiative is transparent, inclusive, and fully digitised.
Speaking on Monday, February 9, Cooperatives Principal Secretary Susan Mang’eni noted that the process of application to disbursement was conducted openly, with no political influence or favouritism.
“This has been a purely digitised process. Young people applied on their own using their phones; nobody was instructed or forced to apply,” Mang’eni said.
Adding, “We did verification so that the whole country can come and see that indeed, in this ward, we have these young people who applied for this project.”
World Bank Issues Statement Over Its NYOTA Partnership With Kenya
