Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua has urged the youth to join the National Youth Service (NYS), saying the government will hire security officers through the department.

Speaking during the flagging off of the NYS recruitment at Karisa Maitha Grounds in Kilifi County, the CS added that the NYS programme will ensure the youth are given equal opportunities regardless of their background.

“We should keep in mind that out of those who will be successfully recruited into NYS, 95 per cent to 98 per cent will be given priority during enlisting in the Kenya Defense Forces, Administration Police, Kenya Wildlife Service, Criminal Investigations Department, among others,” Mutua stated.

There was a marked low turnout of youth in Kilifi County for recruitment into the NYS.

Young mothers

Mutua said many young people were qualified to join the service but ignored the call because they underrate its significance.

“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 women, including young mothers, to enrol, saying getting pregnant at a young age should not mark the end of a woman’s progress.

Mutua said the exercise will be conducted in a transparent manner and pledged to curb cases of favouritism and corruption.

“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 said.

Some 25 youths comprising 15 males and 10 females from the Kilifi North sub-county were selected.