Ruto Orders Kenyans To Seek NYS Training First Before Seeking Jobs Abroad

President William Ruto on Friday, December 8 directed all Kenyans seeking jobs abroad to undergo National Youth Service (NYS) training before being deployed.

Speaking at the pass-out ceremony of the NYS in Gilgil, Nakuru, Ruto explained that Kenyans needed the training to understand what it takes in terms of the demands that come with working in jobs outside the country.

"Already we are concluding negotiations with Germany, Saudi Arabia, and 8 other countries on the export of labour and NYS will be the central organisation for redeployment training so that Kenyans understand what they need to do for work as labour that is exported," Ruto stated.

NYS officers during the pass-out parade at Gilgil, Nakuru County on December 8, 2023. /PCS

The Head of State also indicated that he plans to deploy part of the Ksh38 billion loan secured from India to bolster the facilitations and machinery for the NYS operations.

"We are going to enhance and modernise the equipment that NYS has, and as part of the modernization, Ksh7.5 billion, part of the negotiation we had with Prime Minister Modi last week, will be deployed to NYS," Ruto stated.

According to the President, the funds would aid NYS to grow food around the country as well as to accommodate both theoretical and practical work.

At the same time, Ruto announced that the government would increase salaries for NYS personnel by 40 per cent, which will be achieved in the next three years.

NYS was included in the report submitted by the Taskforce of Police reforms chaired by former Chief Justice David Maraga. 

“When I was here last year, I did commit that we were going to include the National Youth Service in the review of salaries and working conditions of both the police and prisons and I committed that we were going to include the NYS and we did.

“Let me confirm that as the report was presented to me and the government, National Youth Service (NYS) beginning the next financial year for three years the salaries will be increased by 40 percent,” Ruto stated.

Furthermore, he announced that the National Security Council (NSC) approved for 80 percent of all recruitments from security agencies such as the Kenya Defense Forces (KDF), National Police Service (NPS, Kenya Forest Service (KFS), and Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) to come from NYS.

President William Ruto at the National Youth Service pass-out in Gilgil, Nakuru on December 8, 2023. /PCS