Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary Dr. Alfred Mutua has urged the youth to volunteer to join the National Youth Service (NYS) emphasizing that the government will employ security officers through the department.
Speaking during the flagging off of the NYS recruitment exercise at Karisa Maitha Ground in Kilifi County, the CS added that the NYS programme will ensure the youth are given equal opportunities regardless of their economic background.
“We should keep in mind that out of those who will be successfully recruited into NYS, 95 percent to 98 percent will be given priority during enlisting into the Kenya Defense Forces, Administration Police, Kenya Wildlife Service, Criminal Investigations Department, among others,” Mutua stated.
Mutua’s sentiments come on the backdrop of a low turnout of youth in Kilifi County for recruitment into the NYS where he noted that some young people are qualified to join the service but have ignored the call because of underestimating its significance.
He encouraged the youth to show up for the recruitment, stating that NYS would be the springboard for joining the government security agencies.
“The youth have not understood this yet, they think NYS is not a noble job but wait and see how the recruitment of our armed forces will evolve. The majority of those who will join our forces are those who passed through NYS,” the CS said.
“So those who have relaxed at home buying time waiting for army or police recruitment, come and join NYS then climb the ladder. If you do not join NYS, forget about joining our forces,” he emphasized.
The CS further urged young girls to show up for the recruitment exercise including young mothers, stating that getting pregnant at a young age should not mark the end of a girl’s progress towards achieving their goal in their lives.
Dr Mutua assured the public that the exercise will be conducted in a transparent manner while promising to curb cases of favoritism and corruption in joining the youth service.
“In the past, it was alluded that for one to join NYS or KDF, you must know someone within the department. This exercise will not be about connections, but an individual’s own sweat. There will be no pre-selected list that will come from higher offices,” he assured.
A total of 25 youths comprising 15 males and 10 females from the Kilifi North sub-county were selected. In contrast, a very low turnout of youth in other sub-counties resulted in low tallying of numbers during the exercise.
By Jackson Msanzu
