Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku has announced bold plans by the government to scale up the National Youth Service (NYS) recruitment to 100,000 youths annually, positioning the institution as a cornerstone for youth empowerment and national development.
During an impromptu visit to the NYS Paramilitary Training Academy in Gilgil, Nakuru County, CS Ruku assessed the facility’s capacity and readiness to implement the expansive government agenda. He affirmed that NYS is set to play a pivotal role in addressing youth unemployment and instilling values of discipline, service, and patriotism.
“There is no turning back. We are determined to train and empower more youths through NYS as part of our broader national development agenda,” Ruku said during his visit.
Currently, the Gilgil facility is being upgraded to accommodate 40,000 recruits by 2026 in the first phase of the scale-up. CS Ruku noted that infrastructure expansion is already underway ahead of the next intake to support the increased number of recruits.
“The visit was aimed at establishing the readiness of this facility to support the government’s strategic plan. Ahead of next year, we intend to have the paramilitary academy infrastructure expanded to accommodate the additional recruits,” he said.
He praised NYS for its longstanding role in shaping disciplined and service-oriented young Kenyans, describing the institution’s paramilitary and technical colleges as critical national infrastructure.
In addition to physical expansion, the CS revealed ongoing efforts to commercialize NYS operations, making the institution financially sustainable. The government, in collaboration with NYS and other departments, aims to transform the service into a resilient and self-reliant body.
“The commercial wing of NYS will be critical in making the institution financially viable, resilient, and capable of fulfilling its growing mandate,” he stated.
CS Ruku’s visit emphasized the government’s commitment to investing in both the infrastructure and the potential of Kenya’s youth. With the planned scale-up, NYS is poised to become a major driver of skills development, economic transformation, and national unity.
