The President termed the NYS as an important segment in terms of enhancing both public service delivery and national security.
In a remarkable development, President William Ruto on Monday, August 26 directed the National Youth Service (NYS) to introduce basic training of firearms to recruits so that they can be of use in the event security emergencies happen.
While presiding over the passing out parade of the National Youth Service class of 2024 on Monday in Gilgil, the President termed the NYS as an important segment in terms of enhancing both public service delivery and national security.
He thus directed Public Service Cabinet Secretary Justin Muturi to work with the Ministries of Defence and Interior under CSs Soipan Tuya and Kithure Kindiki respectively to ensure that paramilitary training is introduced as a course which will allow NYS recruits to receive basic training in firearms.
NYS officers at the pass-out of National Youth Service officers in Gilgil, Nakuru County on August 26, 2024. /PCS
“The minister responsible for National Youth Service who is here with me should in consultation with the Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Interior further the initiative to make sure that the paramilitary training that these young men and women go through will include a basic course in firearms to make sure that they stand ready to protect the country when the need arises,” said President Ruto.
The President further noted that ex-NYS recruits have been absorbed into other security agencies like the military to help improve security operations in the country.
“The Government has upheld its commitment to recruiting significant numbers of service men and women into the Kenya Defense Forces (KDF) and other ensured job placements for National Youth Service graduates,” he noted.
“The National Youth Service (NYS) remains indispensable to our efforts to enhance public service delivery and national security.”
The President observed that in the recent Kenya Wildlife Service recruitment, out of the 790 recruited officers, 447 were ex-NYS recruits accounting for 56 per cent.
This now confirms the President’s directive that all security agencies should prioritise recruiting men and women from NYS because of their demonstrated discipline, capability and para-military training.
In December 2023, President Ruto announced that the National Security Council (NSC) approved 80 per cent 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.
Meanwhile, Ruto also directed Ministry of Housing Cabinet Secretary Alice Wahome to construct additional hostels which will host 3,000 more recruits ahead of the planned 20,000 additional recruits next year.
He further directed the Ministry to develop housing for staff at the NYS as they do for all the other services.