The National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) program has issued a new directive for its shortlisted applicants, signaling a tighter schedule and a clearer path forward as the initiative moves toward the Validation Exercise slated for October 24, 2025.
In a move designed to sharpen the entrepreneurial readiness of participants, NYOTA is requiring all selected youths to complete the Entrepreneurship Aptitude Test (EAT) ahead of this key milestone.
Officials say the EAT is a crucial step in determining which youths are primed to advance to the next phase of the program, ensuring that those who move forward possess the creativity, problem-solving abilities, and business acumen necessary to translate opportunities into sustainable livelihoods.
The EAT is crafted to measure several core competencies that NYOTA views as essential for entrepreneurial success.
Among these are creativity, which reflects an individual’s capacity to generate innovative ideas and adapt to changing market conditions; problem-solving, which assesses how applicants approach challenges, structure solutions, and anticipate potential obstacles; and general business acumen, which encompasses financial literacy, strategic thinking, market awareness, and practical judgment in business contexts.
Participation in the EAT is straightforward and designed to be accessible. Applicants are instructed to send the word “NYOTA” via SMS to the number 40270 and follow the prompts to begin the test.
Importantly, applicants must use the same mobile number that was used during the initial registration to ensure proper verification and continuity of the evaluation process.
NYOTA has emphasized that the test is free of charge and accessible on both smartphones and feature phones, underscoring the program’s commitment to broad inclusivity regardless of device capability or network access.
For those who do not receive an immediate response after sending the initial message, NYOTA provides a remedial step: participants should dial 100525*1# to activate promotional messages and re-engage with the testing system.
The EAT is delivered via SMS, where applicants first choose their preferred language and then answer a sequence of questions by replying with the corresponding option numbers. Upon completion, a confirmation message is issued, signaling that the test has been successfully submitted.
NYOTA has also set practical guidelines to mitigate disruption during the testing process. If a participant’s device experiences an interruption, such as a power outage or a dropped call, they can resume from where they left off using the same SIM card, provided they do not switch numbers.
It is worth noting, however, that once an answer is submitted, it cannot be edited or changed, which underscores the importance of careful and deliberate responses throughout the test journey.
This EAT initiative is part of a broader effort by NYOTA, conducted in collaboration with the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection and other government agencies, to empower Kenya’s youth with entrepreneurial capability and to create viable pathways to sustainable livelihoods.
The program’s structure envisions a three-pronged approach: skilling, apprenticeships, and business support, all complemented by a culture of saving among beneficiaries.
The ultimate objective, as outlined by the program’s leadership, is to unlock meaningful employment opportunities for a large cohort of young people, a goal that has garnered attention from policymakers and the public alike.
As background, NYOTA is a government-led project funded by the World Bank, designed to expand employment and income through practical training and financial support systems.
In December 2024, former Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen announced that the initiative targets empowering up to 820,000 unemployed youths across the country over its five-year horizon.
The emphasis remains on practical, market-relevant skills and the cultivation of entrepreneurship, with financial assistance available in the form of grants, loans, or equity investments, depending on the business case and growth potential.
The ongoing coverage of NYOTA’s verification and disbursement timelines continues to be of significant interest to stakeholders across Kenya.
