Ruto Doubles NYS Enrollment To 20,000 A Year In Order To CSs

President William Ruto has directed the Ministries of Defence and Interior and National Administration to allocate at least 30 per cent of their vacancies to the National Youth Service (NYS) recruits.

He stated on Friday, March 3 that the move is aimed at ensuring that the skills acquired by the servicemen and women are put to meaningful use.

Also directed to absorb the servicemen are the Ministries of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry, Tourism, Wildlife and Heritage.

NYS officers during the NYS pass-out parade at Gilgil, Nakuru County on March 3, 2023. /STATE HOUSE KENYA

He added that this will encourage and motivate many young Kenyans on their path to national service and productivity, further noting that the youth have the energy, talents and drive that can help in the transformation of Kenya.

He made the remarks during the NYS recruits passing out parade at the National Youth Service Paramilitary Academy in Gilgil, Nakuru County.

“We will double the NYS enrollment to 20,000 a year as a mechanism of building sufficient patriotism and according opportunities to millions of the youth,” he addressed.

The Head of State lauded NYS for its plan to contribute to the enhancement of Government service delivery by providing personnel to assist in digitisation, automation and migration of Government services online. 

He further noted that the Service’s plan to escalate its participation by expanding enrolment to Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in its programmes is an indication of the commitment to establishing the youth as indispensable engines of transformation.

The President observed that the Service should be facilitated by the Ministry of Water, Sanitation and Irrigation to engage in the construction of at least 100 dams and water pans yearly. This, he added, will support the Government agenda and enhance NYS’ financial self-reliance.

“This spirit of productive learning should extend to the cultivation of nearly 80,000 acres of land under commercial food production,” he argued.

Ruto earlier extended the tenure of the former Chief Justice David Maraga - led Police Reforms Taskforce by two months to allow more time for the team to review the terms and conditions of NYS officers.

“I have instructed the taskforce that is currently undertaking the terms and conditions of service of our policemen and the prison service members an extension of two months so that the National Youth Service can be included and their terms of service and employment are considered.

“I look forward to that report in the next two and half months so that we can make it possible for the men and women who do this great job to get their due regard from the people and the government of Kenya,” Ruto stated.