Kuria to elected leaders: Be vigilant to ensure NYS recruitment is fair

Public Service Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria has asked all elected leaders to be vigilant as the recruitment of the National Youth Service volunteers starts on Monday.

The CS under whose docket the NYS falls said he hopes that the leaders will play their role to ensure that their wards recruit the exact number of volunteers provided.

"Dear all MCAs, MPs, women reps, senators, governors, media, clergy, professionals and wananchi in general, since I have published the number of NYS slots for each of our 1,450 wards, it is up to you to monitor and ensure that the exercise that kicks off tomorrow is fair and transparent and your wards get their rightful share,'' Kuria posted on his X account.

Asking the leaders to play a role to make sure that the process is above board, the CS said his latest approach seeks to enhance transparency and equity.

"It is time to fix this country once and for all. The Price of Freedom is Vigilance,'' Kuria said.

The CS has vowed that the process will be free and fair, saying his leadership is ending years of favouritism.

The battle for the slots allocated to each ward based on its population quota is likely to be very stiff given that 80 per cent of police and military recruitment will come from NYS going forward.

Previously, politicians have used their connections to secure slots for their relatives and cronies while leaving out deserving Kenyans.

Last Tuesday, NYS announced that recruitment of volunteers will start from February 5 to February 9, 2024.

In a statement on X, Kuria said all the 15,000 NYS servicemen and servicewomen will be recruited at sub-county recruitment centres.

The CS added that successful candidates will be posted in a public portal one hour after the closure of the exercise.

"No one will have a special list. Not the Director General, not myself as the Cabinet Secretary, not the President of the Republic of Kenya," he said.

"Kila mtu ang'ang'ane kwa uwanja. The only connection you need is an Internet connection to read this message. All the youth in this country deserve an opportunity. President William Ruto and I will give this fair opportunity to all young people without fear or favour,'' he said on his X account.

According to NYS, the volunteer opportunities are for both male and female candidates across the country.

The service said among the requirements is that one must be a Kenyan citizen and a resident of the respective subcounty of recruitment and must be aged 18 to 24 years.

They should also have a mean Grade of D plain and above in KCSE and they should produce original National Identity Card and academic certificates, copies of which should be availed at the recruitment centre.

Eligible candidates must also have a certificate of Good Conduct, must be ready to undergo medical check-ups during and after the recruitment, should be prepared to undergo rigorous physical training and should be prepared to give voluntary service to the country in any part of Kenya.

NYS said successful candidates will report for the NYS paramilitary Course at NYS College, Gilgil and NYSTTI Naivasha on dates and times specified in their respective calling letters they will be issued.

NYS noted that orphans who meet the qualification requirements above will be given special preference subject to the production of sufficient documentary proof such as parents’ death certificates or burial permits.

Persons with disability are also encouraged to avail themselves for recruitment provided they can withstand the rigorous physical training.

"NYS does not condone corruption in any form. Canvassing and giving monetary or other considerations for admission is an offence which can lead to automatic disqualification and or prosecution," NYS warned via a statement.

"Instances of this nature should be reported promptly to the Director-General on telephone number 020-2400129," the service said.