President Uhuru Kenyatta has commissioned 7,000 National Youth Servicemen and women who will be engaged in national youth empowerment countrywide.
The Service men and women will be deployed to all parts of the country to implement programmes aimed at building the foundations for developing a prosperous Kenya.
They will be engaged in improving informal settlements; building water pans and drilling boreholes in Arid and Semi-arid Land areas; and carry out vector control programmes among other activities.
President Kenyatta, who flagged off trucks and other equipment for the national empowerment programme at State House Nairobi, said the NYS personnel will work alongside 70,000 community youth in the communities where they will be engaged to improve on livelihoods.
“The 7,000 servicemen and women will be able to mentor ten more youth each bringing to 70,000 community beneficiaries in their areas of operation,” the President said.
He told Members of Parliament to work with NYS in identifying Kenyan youth in their constituencies to be recruited in the national programme, adding ”do not go for your own. Recruit qualified Kenyans”.
President Kenyatta said the youth empowerment programme piloted in Kibera was a big success. Youth in Kibera have managed to pool over Sh150m in savings for their future, he added.
“The programme will also instill a sense of patriotism among the young generation,” the President said.
Devolution Cabinet Secretary Anne Waiguru said the 7,000 youth are the first batch trained under the re-branded National Youth Service.
NYS, Ms. Waiguru said, was restructured under a 5 plan framework to realize the vision of catalyzing transformative youth empowerment in the country.
She said the empowerment programme was in line with the Government policy to promote a culture of entrepreneurship among youth.
The commissioning was witnessed by Uganda President Yoweri Museveni, First lady Margaret Kenyatta, retired President Mwai Kibaki, Deputy President William Ruto and senior government officials.
