State rubbishes claims of new NYS scandal, says reforms have closed loopholes

The government has dismissed suggestions that the National Youth Service (NYS) has been hit by a new corruption scandal, insisting the agency is operating within the law and remains firmly focused on serving young Kenyans.

Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku said recent reports in a section of the media had created the impression that NYS was again mired in graft. 

According to him, what is being framed as a fresh scandal relates to old matters between 2013 and 2016, and does not represent what is happening within the agency today.

Ruku made the remarks during the commissioning of the Kamwangi Huduma Centre in Gatundu North.

He said that immediately after he assumed office, the government moved to strengthen oversight within NYS and placed special attention on accountability and financial discipline.

One of the first steps, he explained, was to halt the processing of pending bills linked to the institution so they could undergo verification. 

"The ministry later escalated the issue to the relevant authorities after noting inconsistencies and unusually high claims that required deeper scrutiny."

Ruku said a forensic review followed, exposing fictitious and illegitimate pending bills that had been layered onto historically unresolved accounts. 

"Taxpayers will not foot the cost for goods or services that were never delivered,” Ruku said, stressing that the exercise was necessary to protect public funds.

He noted that NYS has since tightened its internal controls and aligned its operations with the Judiciary and other state agencies to ensure that any questionable claims are handled through proper legal channels.

His remarks come amid reports in some section of the media alleging the Service was once again entangled in questionable transactions involving suppliers and pending bills. 

The report claimed an elaborate scheme in which suppliers allegedly submitted false invoices of billions for goods and services that were never delivered.

Ruku, however, cautioned the media against recycling historical controversies without proper context, saying such reporting risks misleading the public and harming institutions that are currently performing well. 

He insisted there was “no crisis” at NYS, and urged the press to focus on factual, verifiable information.

The CS further stated that the core mandate of NYS, paramilitary training, skills development and youth empowerment, has not only been preserved but expanded.

He said thousands of young people are currently undergoing training in various fields, with the agency now emphasising employability, national service and technical skills.

Ruku also announced that the next recruitment drive will take place next month as part of a broader government effort to enhance youth participation in national development programmes. 

The intake, he said, is expected to boost the number of beneficiaries and widen the impact of NYS across counties.

He reiterated that the institution is stable, transparent and serving the interests of Kenyan youth, while the ministry continues to focus on unity, service delivery and equitable development.