Kenyan youths have been dealt a significant blow following the discontinuation of the Kenya Youth Employment and Opportunities Project (KYEOP) by the World Bank, which was funding the project.
This news came as a shock to the youths who were enrolled in the program. They were informed that the donor, the World Bank, would not be releasing any more funds for the project. The Micro Small Enterprise Authority (MSEA), which managed the project, shared this information, explaining that the delay in fund disbursement was due to the project’s discontinuation by the World Bank.
The last disbursement took place between December 2023 and February 2024, during which time the beneficiaries received a total of Ksh. 20,000 each. However, they were left disappointed as they waited for the second disbursement, which never came.
Initially, the project had enrolled 165,000 youths, and by the time of its sudden closure this year, the number had increased to 300,000. This abrupt end to the project now puts these youths in a tough situation, especially amid the current economic challenges in the country. They are now looking to President William Ruto to address their concerns and find solutions to their pressing issues.