CS Ruku vows to deepen public service reforms
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Public Service, Human Capital Development and Special Programmes Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku has outlined a raft of measures aimed at addressing systemic procurement irregularities within the National Youth Service (NYS).
The Cabinet Secretary spoke at his Harambee House office following a high-level consultative meeting with officials from the Ministry, Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) and NYS.
This comes in response to allegations of the embezzlement of Sh2 billion at the NYS College in Gilgil, as detailed in a report released by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) on May 7, 2025.
CS Ruku directed PPRA to immediately undertake a comprehensive regulatory and compliance investigation into all NYS procurement and disposal proceedings from July 2019 to date.
The findings, he said, will guide a broader policy review aimed at reforming NYS procurement systems.
"The youth deserve transparent and accountable service delivery. Any breach of the Constitution and procurement laws cannot be tolerated,” the CS said.
CS Ruku further called on the PPRA to submit detailed recommendations on asset recovery by EACC and the Asset Recovery Agency, and directed NYS leadership to institute disciplinary action against involved NYS staff.
Ruku said the regulatory and compliance investigation is without prejudice to the criminal investigations that are already being conducted by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC).
"I hereby direct the PPRA to prepare and submit its findings and recommendations: to the Asset Recovery Agency (ARA) for restitution in accordance with Article 226(5) of the Constitution of Kenya, 2010; and to the Council of NYS to institute disciplinary actions in accordance with Part III of the National Youth Service Act, 2018, the Employment Act, 2007, the Public Service Commission Act, 2019 and the Fair Administrative Act, 2015," he said.
"PPRA to prepare and submit its findings and recommendations to the relevant professional (disciplinary) bodies for professional disciplinary actions and sanctions; and the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority Board (PPRAB) to debar any person from participating in procurement or asset disposal proceedings in accordance with Article 227(2)(c) of the Constitution; Section 41 of the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act, 2015; and Regulation 22(1)(b) of the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Regulations, 2020.
"...Or to transfer the procuring and disposal responsibility NYS to another public entity or procuring agents in accordance with Section 51(1) of the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act, 2015 and Regulation 39(1)(3)(4) of the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Regulations, 2020."
The CS directed the Commandant General of the National Youth Service to submit to his office a certified copy of the NYS Procurement and Asset Disposal Systems and Procedures Manual established pursuant to Section 45(1) of the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act, 2015, for my review and policy guidelines.
He also urged professional bodies to sanction the individuals involved, and the debarment of implicated individuals or entities from public procurement.
He also left open the possibility of transferring NYS procurement responsibilities to another public agency if systemic failures are confirmed.
In a move aimed at informing future policy direction, the CS directed the Commandant General of NYS to submit a certified copy of the institution’s Procurement and Asset Disposal Systems and Procedures Manual for review.
