Cabinet Secretary for Public Service Geoffrey Ruku has affirmed the government's commitment to scaling up the National Youth Service (NYS) recruitment program, with a bold target of enrolling 100,000 youths annually.

During an impromptu visit to the NYS Paramilitary Training Academy in Gilgil, Nakuru County, Ruku assessed emphasized that the government is fully committed to expanding the service as a key strategy for youth empowerment and national development.

“There is no turning back. We are determined to train and empower more youths through NYS as part of our broader national development agenda,” said Ruku.

The CS inspected ongoing training activities and reviewed the academy’s current capacity, which is set to accommodate 40,000 recruits in 2026, the first phase of the planned scale-up.

“This visit was aimed at establishing the readiness of this facility to support the government’s strategic plan to increase the number of NYS recruits to over 100,000 annually,” he stated.

Ruku announced that plans are already in motion to expand the Gilgil academy’s infrastructure ahead of next year’s intake to support the increased numbers.

“Ahead of next year, we intend to have the paramilitary academy infrastructure expanded to accommodate the additional recruits,” he said.

He lauded the NYS for its pivotal role in nurturing disciplined, service-oriented youth, describing its paramilitary and technical colleges as critical national infrastructure.

“The National Youth Service paramilitary and technical colleges are essential to our nation. They contribute significantly to developing young people grounded in respect, discipline, and commitment to public service and nation-building,” he added.

Beyond the infrastructure upgrades, the Cabinet Secretary also revealed ongoing efforts to commercialize NYS operations. In collaboration with NYS and other government departments, the ministry is working to transform the service into a financially self-sustaining institution.

“The commercial wing of NYS will be critical in making the institution financially viable, resilient, and capable of fulfilling its growing mandate,” he noted.

The visit underscored the government’s unwavering commitment to leveraging NYS as a vehicle for youth empowerment, skills development, and economic transformation. CS Ruku reaffirmed that the government is investing not just in physical infrastructure, but also in the future of Kenya’s youth.