11/02/2026
The way the NYOTA Project is being rolled out raises serious concerns about priorities and public spending. While empowering the youth is a noble and necessary goal, the manner in which the program is being launched across counties appears unnecessarily expensive. Moving the President, a large security team, government officials, and support staff from one county to another comes at a high cost to taxpayers.
Each county launch involves helicopters, heavy security deployment, mobilization of crowds, tents, sound systems, and other logistical arrangements. When you compare these expenses to the relatively small amounts being given to individual youth beneficiaries, it becomes difficult to justify the scale of spending on ceremonies. The optics suggest more focus on political visibility than cost-effective service delivery.
There was no need for the President to personally launch the project in every county. A single national launch would have been sufficient, after which county officials could oversee implementation locally. This approach would have significantly reduced travel and event costs while still ensuring that the funds reach the intended beneficiaries.
At a time when the country is facing economic challenges, every shilling should be stretched to maximize impact. The money spent on repeated tours and large public events could have been redirected to increase the grant amounts, expand training programs, or reach more young people across the country.
Youth empowerment should be about impact, not spectacle. If the goal is truly to uplift young people economically, then minimizing administrative and ceremonial expenses would ensure that more resources go directly into changing lives rather than funding costly roadshows.
