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Public Service, Performance and Delivery Management Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria has recommended the deployment of officers from the National Youth Service (NYS) to Haiti to assist in combating criminal gangs.

Speaking during the launch of the NYS Interventions for Agriculture and Food Security in Kitale on Thursday, November 2, the CS said the move would help address the high unemployment rate among the youth in the country.

“I’m here to get jobs for the youths, and anywhere I hear there’s an opportunity, as long as it’s not drugs, I’m taking the youth…even if that’s in Haiti, we must have NYS…our youth must get jobs,” the controversial CS said adding that he was under firm instructions from President William Ruto not to rest until every youth gets a source of income.

The CS’s remarks come amid plans by the Kenyan government to deploy 1,000 police officers to help restore security in the troubled Caribbean nation.

The United Nations (UN) backed mission received a nod from President William Ruto’s Cabinet mid-last month.

The government, however, suffered a setback after the High Court slammed breaks on the operation following a petition filed by former presidential candidate, Ekuru Aukot, on October 9.

The court extended the orders on October 24 amid concerns over Kenya’s preparedness for the mission from various quarters including the opposition.

The court is expected to deliver a ruling on the petition on November 9.

Meanwhile, CS Kuria on Thursday said the government would partner with NYS and other development partners to end importation of maize, costing approximately Ksh600 billion annually.

“We will have a Memorandum of Understanding between Kenya Seed Company and the Agricultural Development Corporation (ADC) to employ the NYS as seedling propagators,” CS Kuria revealed.

He added: “They will not be working for free! They have to be paid.”

The CS also announced the deployment of 300 NYS servicemen and women to assist in harvesting 6,000 acres of maize grown by the Agricultural Development Corporation and the Kenya Seed Company.

He noted that the maize would have been spoilt in the farms for lack of manpower.

“We have also partnered with the Council of Governors, where we will lease their unutilized land for seed propagation and farming across the country.

“NYS will also be pivotal in supporting our farmers as Agricultural Extension Officers, distribution of cow semen and all-round service providers,” he stated.