By Kepher Otieno - Reporter
Kenya, 11 December 2025 - Vihiga Governor Wilber Ottichilo has publicly expressed his disappointment over youths who received Nyota Fund cash, but failed to respond to county-offered business incentives.
His frustration opens a new debate about youth financing, accountability, and the effectiveness of government empowerment programmes.
His sharp remarks, questioning why beneficiaries have “disappeared” instead of claiming free trading licenses and tax exemptions, signal a growing concern within county leadership about whether the fund is achieving its intended purpose.
The governor’s frustration surfaced when he revealed that none of the fund recipients had presented themselves to the county revenue department for assessment and issuance of free trading licenses.
The incentives were intended to support young entrepreneurs, ease start-up costs, and encourage the formalisation of youth-led enterprises.
The lack of response raises uncomfortable questions: Are beneficiaries abandoning their business plans? Did the funds get diverted to personal use? Or are bureaucratic barriers discouraging engagement?
Ottichilo’s remarks underscore a recurring challenge across devolved units—ensuring that youth empowerment funds translate into real, sustainable enterprises rather than becoming short-term financial relief with little long-term impact.
His reference to the high-profile Nyota Fund launch, where he appeared alongside the President, was intended to contrast the enthusiasm shown at national rollout with the apparent silence now facing Vihiga’s youth beneficiaries.
It is both a political nudge and a warning that accountability will be scrutinised moving forward.
Beyond the immediate concern of unresponsive beneficiaries, the governor’s comments reveal deeper structural tensions.
Many youth empowerment schemes across Kenya struggle with follow-up, mentorship gaps, and limited oversight.
Without proper monitoring, young entrepreneurs often lack the discipline, skills, or support systems necessary to turn seed capital into viable businesses.
Ottichilo’s alarm therefore reflects a broader systemic issue: financing without structured incubation rarely yields sustainable results.
At the same time, the governor is attempting to reposition Vihiga’s youth agenda by tying financial support to skills development and employment pathways.
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His administration has unveiled plans to offer jobs and empowerment opportunities to technically trained youths from local institutions.
This approach signals a shift from purely financial interventions to a skills-based economic model—one that aligns technical training with county labour needs.
These intentions were highlighted during the handover of a construction site for 340 student housing units at Sabatia Technical and Vocational College.
Through the county executive committee member for physical planning, the administration reiterated its commitment to sponsoring youth from poor backgrounds to enroll in technical colleges and developing programmes to absorb graduates into county projects.
The strategy aims to create a pipeline where training leads to direct employment or entrepreneurial opportunities—addressing the unemployment problem more sustainably.
The rapid growth of Sabatia Technical and Vocational College further reinforces this direction.
The principal celebrated the institution’s rising enrollment and its role in equipping young people with market-driven skills.
Her appeal to parents to consider technical training for their children highlighted a national shift toward value-addition learning, particularly for students who miss university admission.
The upcoming hostel construction is expected to ease accommodation pressures and help the institution scale further.
Local leaders, including the area MP’s office, used the event to stress professionalism and quality in public projects, noting that proper infrastructure is essential for sustaining the county’s technical training ambitions.
Ultimately, Ottichilo’s comments on the Nyota Fund beneficiaries expose a critical disconnect between youth financing and youth accountability.
His administration’s pivot toward skills-based empowerment reflects an attempt to close that gap.
But the political and policy challenge remains clear: without stronger follow-up systems and deeper engagement with young people, even well-intentioned youth empowerment programmes risk falling short of their transformative promise.
