Inside state’s plan to re-engineer NYS

THE government has unveiled an ambitious plan to remodel strategies and commercialise the activities of the National Youth Service for self-sustainability.

In the plan revealed by Public Service CS Justin Muturi and PS Amos Gathecha, the NYS seeks to recruit 100,000 youths every year and establish commercial enterprises.

The agency also wants to upgrade its training facilities to the level of technical and vocational education training institutes.

“The NYS is re-engineering its strategic agenda for commercial and enterprise development by establishing NYS commercial enterprises, a dedicated special purpose vehicle that will advance the sustainability agenda,” Muturi said.

The sustainability bid follows a directive by the President to the NYS to recruit 100,000 into the service every year from 2027-28.

In 2025-26, NYS plans to recruit 40,000 youths in two cohorts, with a target of 100,000 recruits in 2027-28.

The CS said NYS will recruit 50,000 servicemen and women every six months in the expansion plan.

In the first half of the current financial year, NYS trained 14,604 out of a target of 40,000 youth with paramilitary skills. In addition, the service trained 28,088 servicemen/women in technical and vocational skills out of a target of 42, 690.

NYS undertakes paramilitary training as well as TVET training of the members of the Service.

“To achieve this, it is important to enhance the sustainability of the service. The President commissioned a team of economic advisers to assist the service in developing guidelines for re-engineering the NYS commercial department,” he said.

The NYS also sought the University of Nairobi, which has developed business plans for the agency.

“The UoN, through the Enterprise and Services Ltd, has developed eight business plans which have been approved by NYS Council.”

They include agro-value additional enterprise, engineering and mechanisation, hospitality services, textile and garment manufacturing, security services, construction and development services.

Through the plan, NYS targets the national and county government agencies as its customers.

“NYS of those years had some issues and it was agreed that we have a break from that past. That was why it was necessary to engage professional bodies on a G-to-G basis,” he said.

NYS own heavy machinery, including tractors, compactors, excavators and trucks, which they outsource to counties for collection of garbage and gravelling of roads.

NYS director general James Tembur disclosed the agency has partnered with several counties for the provision of services.

“We are working very well with the counties. Currently, we have engaged some counties; they have hired machines from NYS,” Tembur said.

He cited Machakos, Elgeyo Marakwet and Kisumu, where the service constructed a road with bitumen standard and Homa Bay where they constructed a dyke.