National Youth Service to form security firm in bid to create jobs

The National Youth Service (NYS) emerged as one of the most ambitious institutions in the country with the revelation of plans to establish a private security firm to employ its graduates.

In its strategic plan, NYS says the move is aimed at ensuring the trainees' talents do not go to waste after leaving the service.

"The assumption is that having undergone the paramilitary programme at basic training level, they will make very thorough and professional guards," says part of the document.

The services this unit will provide include ticketing and crowd control at public events such as sports events, security for private corporations in various parts of the country and even government agencies such as the Kenya Ferry Service, Kenya Ports Authority and airports.

The sites are being manned by private security guards.

The intention is to have NYS formally contracted for these activities, and to compete with 600 other security firms for private contracts, which is likely to see some of them driven out of business.

The document proposes the setting up of a firm under the State Corporations Act, CAP 446 and the second being the setting up of a subsidiary company limited by shares owned by NYS under the Companies Act, CAP 486 similar to the model used by the NYS in Tanzania.

The state corporation to be established will be mandated with providing security to the private and perhaps even public sector. The process would entail establishing the corporation through subsidiary legislation in the form of an order by the President.

Manufacture hardware

It will be modelled on Kenya Ordinance Factories Corporation which is under the Ministry of Defence and mandated to manufacture hardware machinery and equipment.

The document says a subsidiary company limited by shares and owned by NYS could be established. This is informed by a similar arrangement between the University of Nairobi and its subsidiary company, University Enterprises and Services.

"Once this determination has been made, the first activity is slated to begin in the next financial year with the recruitment of 350 NYS graduates to offer security services. It is proposed that the security firm be hosted in Nairobi at NYS headquarters," adds the document.

The service also intends to assist police in management of traffic flow in the city, according to the report.

Some 1,215 proposed brigade will be fronting traffic management aspects, and the police will manage the law enforcement aspects.

The targeted areas include Mombasa Road, Westlands, Airport, Kariobangi, GSU, Kilimani, Kileleshwa, Lavington, Kasarani, Mwiki, Embakasi, Utawala, City Centre, Jogoo Road and Railway Roundabout.

Other areas are City Stadium, Enterprise Road, Haile Selassie Avenue, Ngong Road, Pangani, Juja Road, Parklands, Highridge and feeder roads.

NYS was recently rebranded under President Uhuru Kenyatta.