National Youth Service (NYS) graduates from Nyamira County have decried unutilized technical skills gained and urged the government to utilize their skills and get value for its investment.
Giving views to a taskforce formed by the President to collect views on reforms they need implemented at NYS, the group suggested that the government should give them first priority whenever job opportunities are advertised.
They stressed that the national government already knew the rigorous paramilitary training they have undergone and the huge financial expenses it had incurred in equipping them with various technical skills and thus should employ them whenever there are vacancies.
One of them Brian Kaunda said that apart from few assignments, they were engaged in for very short stints, they have unfortunately never had a chance of being recruited to any military department.
Kaunda lamented that the age limit put by the government also disadvantaged them from recruitment as they are regarded to be overage and suggested that the government raise the age limit for X-NYS graduates to 35 years.
Mr. Elija Sironga, a retired Kenya Defense Forces (KDF) officer suggested the County Government should be directed to deploy NYS graduates as their security enforcement officers because they already have professional training.
“Our NYS graduates should be taken to various Technical institutions to be instructor assistants because their training of various technical skills is of very high and reputable standards. Further they need to bring NYS services near the counties by opening offices in each county,” Mr. Sironga added.
Area Maendeleo ya Wanawake chairlady, Mary Orwenyo suggested that recruitment of X-NYS graduates to the military should be up-scaled to 50% for them to secure the coveted yet limited job opportunities.
Ms. Lydia Matende, County coordinator for national council of people with disabilities observed that disability mainstreaming was not fully embraced in NYS training for instance saying few youths with albinism have been trained.
Ms Matende noted that even deaf youths should be enrolled in NYS institutions arguing with the help of translators, they can comfortably and seamlessly train just like other because they have managed to clear their secondary school studies and passed.
Most speakers said that youths no longer envy to join NYS training because X-NYS graduates are idling at home jobless while others have unfortunately joined village and town criminal gangs or lost to drunkenness due to frustrations.
The taskforce which was collecting views from members of the public on reforms they wanted implemented at the National youth service was led by Mr Mureithi Kangi.
By Deborah Bochere
