Gov’t Targets 68,000 Skilled Youths For State Certification Program
In an effort to increase employment and economic inclusion, the government launched a statewide skills certification program.
The project is aimed at thousands of young Kenyans who obtained technical skills outside of official institutions and universities.
Shadrack Mwadime, Principal Secretary of the Labour Ministry, stated on television on January 27 that the program will help young people all around Kenya.
It will also concentrate on people who were unable to complete formal training because of social or economic limitations.
The Project, under the component of Improving Youth Employability, will certify 20,000 youth with relevant skills through Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).
— National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (@NYOTA_Kenya) January 23, 2026
We have provided answers to frequently asked questions on RPL. For more information, visit https://t.co/0KsWqUzl9u… pic.twitter.com/6FyLoue6PQ
The program, which aims to formally recognize practical abilities acquired via experience, apprenticeship, and informal training, is expected to award certificates to 68,000 youngsters, according to Mwadime.
He pointed out that despite having important skills, many talented Kenyans have been denied access to financial institutions and employment possibilities due to a lack of legal documentation.
#DYK On-the-Job Experience will involve 90,000 youth focusing on providing apprenticeship and employment opportunities for youth across various trades. #NYOTAOJE #NYOTAProjectKe #NYOTAOpportunities #KuzaImarishaEndelezaVijana pic.twitter.com/6NmWPrQjYd
— National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (@NYOTA_Kenya) January 27, 2026
“The purpose of these certificates is to ensure Kenyan youths’ skills are recognised both locally and internationally,” Mwadime said.
He went on to say that certification will improve Kenyan youth’s employment mobility and competitiveness.
The Principal Secretary disclosed that after evaluations and verification procedures are finished in all of the targeted counties, certificate issuance will start in three to four weeks.
He emphasized that the initiative is in line with the government’s larger goal of making sure that no Kenyan child or young person is left behind because they cannot afford to attend school or pursue higher education.
By certifying informal skills, the government aims to empower individuals at the bottom of the economic pyramid, enabling them to seek employment, bid for contracts, or start small businesses with greater credibility.
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Mwadime also pointed out that certified youth will be better positioned to access financial services such as loans, grants, and credit facilities, which often require proof of skills or qualifications.
The initiative is part of ongoing labour and youth empowerment reforms designed to bridge the gap between education, skills development, and the realities of Kenya’s job market.
The government will support 20,000 youth under the Recognition of Prior Learning. #KuzaImarishaEndelezaVijana #NYOTAProjectKe #NYOTAOpportunities pic.twitter.com/vwWWWfr0wC
— National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (@NYOTA_Kenya) January 26, 2026
The certification comes years after President Uhuru, through the Kenya National Qualifications Authority (KNQA), evaluated juakali workers and awarded the experts with certificates of recognition of prior learning.
The certification programme aligns with the ruling party’s ‘Bottom-up Economic Transformation Agenda’, which aimed to empower the least privileged members of society.
Gov’t Targets 68,000 Skilled Youths For State Certification Program
