Gilgil: The government has commended the National Youth Service (NYS) for its significant contributions to national development, focusing on food security, economic empowerment, and environmental sustainability. These efforts align with Kenya's Vision 2030 and the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).
According to Kenya News Agency, Public Service Principal Secretary Dr. Jane Imbunya highlighted NYS's central role in equipping the youth with transformative skills during the commissioning of a new bakery at the NYS Paramilitary Academy in Gilgil. The facility, capable of producing 4,752 loaves of 400 grams daily, aims to enhance food security within NYS institutions while providing practical training in food production and entrepreneurship.
Dr. Imbunya emphasized that by providing the youth with essential skills, NYS is investing in a generation that will bolster Kenya's food systems, economic growth, and environmental protection. She also noted that NYS programs are being updated to meet both national and global development priorities.
The re-engineering of NYS programs aligns with Vision 2030, BETA, and international frameworks like the SDGs and Agenda 2063, she added. Dr. Imbunya praised NYS leadership and partners for steering the Service toward impactful programs that equip young people with technical skills, encourage entrepreneurship, and create income opportunities.
NYS Commandant General James Tembur reiterated that recruit training is fundamental to all NYS programs, instilling discipline, patriotism, and resilience. He mentioned that NYS is modernizing its courses to match current labor market demands, ensuring graduates possess competitive skills.
NYS offers various vocational training programs, including plumbing, electrical installation, and advanced building technologies. At the School of Catering, recruits receive diplomas in food and beverage production, catering, accommodation, and housekeeping, designed to fill labor market gaps and promote self-reliance.
NYS also leads in climate action, supporting the national road to 15 billion Trees initiative launched in 2022. The Service has planted over 1.5 million trees, contributing to Kenya's goal to increase tree cover from 12% to 30% by 2032.
Established in 1964, NYS was initially aimed at instilling discipline, patriotism, and vocational skills among the youth. Its mandate has since expanded, with thousands of recruits graduating each year equipped with employable skills, many of whom join the civil service or private sector.