President William Ruto announced three new components of the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) programme at a Recognition of Prior Learning graduation ceremony held at State House, Nairobi.

The Fundi Locator National Skills Matching and Exchange Portal will list workers who have earned formal certificates through the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) process, making it easier for employers and customers to locate verified talent.

The revamped Haba Haba Savings Scheme targets people with irregular incomes – such as fundi, traders and young entrepreneurs – allowing them to set aside a portion of earnings and convert savings into lasting assets.

In the current NYOTA cycle, 63,825 applicants enrolled, 4,543 progressed to the final assessment after screening and portfolio preparation, and 3,727 were certified as competent.

Overall, 177,338 Kenyans have registered for RPL nationwide, with more than 108,000 screened and 97,134 assessed, highlighting strong demand for formal recognition of informal skills.

Ruto linked the initiatives to ongoing government projects, noting the affordable‑housing programme with 303,910 units under construction that requires masons, electricians, plumbers and other artisans, and citing ClimateWorX and green public works that have created over 45,000 opportunities.

He also referenced digital hubs such as Jitume Labs and TVET digital centres, which together have opened more than 350,000 digital opportunities.

Ruto urged participants who did not meet the final assessment criteria to improve their portfolios and re‑apply, emphasizing that the process remains open to all who wish to formalise their skills.

He highlighted complementary programmes, including the NYOTA Business Support Programme that aims to assist 134,000 young entrepreneurs across all 1,450 wards, and the Kenya Jobs and Economic Transformation programme that supports micro‑ and small‑enterprises.

Ruto also encouraged skilled Kenyans to invest earnings through the Ziidi Trader platform, launched with Safaricom and the Nairobi Securities Exchange, which already has nearly one million users buying shares via M‑PESA.