Gilgil: The government has lauded the National Youth Service (NYS) for advancing three key pillars of national development including food security, economic empowerment, and environmental sustainability. Speaking during the commissioning of a State-of-the-Art bakery at the NYS Paramilitary Academy in Gilgil, Nakuru county, Public Service Principal Secretary (PS) Dr. Jane Imbunya highlighted the alignment of NYS skills training and programs with Kenya's Vision 2030 and the Kenya Kwanza government's Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), emphasizing the institution's role in equipping the country's youth with transformative skills.
According to Kenya News Agency, the bakery, which has a production capacity of 4,752 loaves of 400 grams daily, will enhance food security within NYS facilities and provide practical training to recruits in food production and entrepreneurship. Dr. Imbunya emphasized the importance of equipping the youth with the right skills as an investment in securing Kenya's food systems, growing the economy, and safeguarding the environment.
The PS noted that NYS programs are re-engineered to respond to Kenya's development priorities as well as global frameworks. She commended the NYS leadership, partners, and stakeholders for steering the Service towards transformative programs that equip young people with technical competencies, nurture entrepreneurship, and expand income generation opportunities.
NYS Commandant General James Tembur stressed that recruit training remains the foundation of all programs offered in NYS training institutions, instilling discipline, patriotism, and resilience. He noted that NYS was undergoing a transformative agenda aimed at modernizing courses to meet current labor market demands, ensuring graduates leave with relevant and competitive skills.
Currently, NYS offers a wide range of vocational training programs including plumbing, electrical installation, masonry, and advanced building technologies. In the School of Catering, recruits pursue Diplomas in food and beverage production, catering, accommodation, and housekeeping skills designed to address labor market gaps and promote self-reliance and economic empowerment.
In support of the national 15 Billion Trees Initiative launched by President Dr. William Ruto in 2022, NYS has positioned itself as a leader in climate action, having planted over 1.5 million trees within its institutions. This initiative contributes to Kenya's target of increasing tree cover from 12 to 30 percent by 2032.
Established in 1964, the NYS was founded to instill discipline, patriotism, and vocational skills among the youth. Its mandate has expanded, with thousands of recruits graduating each year, fully equipped with employable skills, many of whom are absorbed into the civil service or private sector.