The Kenyan government has committed Ksh. 6.4 billion to expand the National Youth Service (NYS) training infrastructure as it aims to recruit up to 100,000 young people by 2028. This move is part of a major expansion of the Service, focusing on skills development and youth empowerment. Cabinet Secretary for Public Service, Human Capital Development and Special Programmes Geoffrey Ruku announced the investment at the NYS Paramilitary Academy in Gilgil, Nakuru County.
The expansion plans include the construction of new classrooms, workshops, barracks, kitchens, and administration facilities. This will increase NYS capacity to accommodate and equip about 50,000 young men and women at any given time. Ruku emphasized that the expansion is not just about increasing recruitment but also about providing young Kenyans with the skills and opportunities needed to secure livelihoods, create enterprises, and contribute to the economy.
Ruku, representing President William Ruto at the passing-out parade of the 01/2026 cohort of 15,363 recruits, highlighted the importance of creating pathways for youth potential to be translated into skills, employment, enterprise, and productive livelihoods. The planned recruitment drive will be matched by adequate infrastructure, equipment, trainers, and human resources. The President had earlier directed that recruitment should progressively expand towards 100,000 young people by 2028.
The government plans to expand technical and vocational training alongside the new infrastructure. This will enable NYS graduates to leave with practical competencies in areas relevant to the labour market. The Service provides an environment where young people acquire discipline and patriotism while developing practical skills in construction, agriculture, technical trades, and other areas relevant to the economy.
Since 2024, 12,760 NYS alumni have transitioned into vetted employment opportunities, including 5,720 who secured placements in countries such as the United Kingdom, Israel, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Australia. The government is also equipping NYS to undertake more construction and commercial activities, including procuring 50 large tipper trucks and two-wheel loaders, and 50 excavators.
Agriculture is another area targeted for expansion, with NYS partnering with the National Irrigation Authority to bring 3,000 acres under cultivation in the Tana Basin. The Service is also expanding its environmental role, having contributed to planting more than 71.8 million trees since 2022. NYS personnel have been involved in road works, river restoration, and other environmental interventions through Climate WorX.
The government is seeking to ensure that skills acquired at NYS are formally recognised, with a Recognition of Prior Learning policy in place. The expansion is linked to Kenya's long-term development plans, with the country's future depending heavily on the quality of its human capital. The success of this vision will ultimately depend on the quality of people who are disciplined, skilled, innovative, ethical, and committed to public service and national development.
Key points
- The Kenyan government has committed Ksh. 6.4 billion to expand National Youth Service training infrastructure.
- The expansion aims to recruit up to 100,000 young people by 2028.
- The government plans to expand technical and vocational training alongside the new infrastructure.
