The Cabinet Secretary for Public Service and Human Capital Development, Geoffrey Ruku, has unveiled an ambitious plan to commercialise the National Youth Service (NYS), positioning it as a key driver of youth empowerment, industrial growth, and national productivity.
Appearing before the Senate, Ruku said the initiative seeks to transform NYS into a self-sustaining and revenue-generating entity, aligning with the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) and Kenya’s Vision 2030 development blueprint.
Under the plan, NYS will establish a new commercial arm — the National Youth Service Enterprises and Services Company — to oversee ventures in mechanised construction, agriculture, agro-processing, textile and garment manufacturing, hospitality, and security services.
Ruku revealed that the commercialisation programme is expected to generate over Sh4 billion annually, with revenues projected to grow in subsequent years.
He added that the move will help the government reduce NYS’s Sh10 billion training budget by up to 40 percent, easing dependence on the national Exchequer.
According to the CS, the transformation will not only enhance NYS’s financial sustainability but also create employment opportunities for thousands of young Kenyans while promoting skills development across multiple sectors.
