NAIROBI: When he presided over the passing out parade of the National Youth Service (NYS) on Thursday, President Uhuru Kenyatta was unequivocal — those responsible for bleeding dry this institution dry and stealing its resources would be held to account.

This message must have resonated well with those who have watched this institution’s name dragged through the mud as those responsible for managing it devised all manner of schemes to enrich themselves by inflating the cost of goods and services of supplied to the NYS in contravention of the law.
Formed in 1964 through an Act of Parliament, the para-military unit trains youths it has conscripted to take part in reconstruction projects and respond to disasters when the need arises. The government revamped the service in 2014 and sought to engage it in more projects, many of them civilian projects. Some involved the clearing of drains, and building of toilets and other social amenities in shantytowns — all very noble activities. It is during the procurement of supplies for this expanded mandate that reports of corruption began to emerge.

Today dozens of former NYS officials and others in the Ministry of Devolution and Planning have been charged in court over the loss of millions of shillings in the organisation.

This para-military unit has always stood for a noble cause, and the 9,039 NYS recruits who went through the passing out parade in Gilgil, Nakuru County will be the embodiment of public service.

As the President reiterated, no individuals should be allowed to subvert the dreams of Kenyan youths. The nation’s destiny and prosperity will be in the hands of youths who choose to work hard and renew hope for the future.
It is unfortunate that corruption has threatened the potential of the NYS — recent reports indicate the dire situation at the youth service where trainees had to be sent home for lack of food and other amenities. Perhaps more disturbing are claims by the political Opposition that NYS recruits are being used to popularise the Jubilee administration and are often deployed to offer its services during party activities. Whether or not these claims have merit, the disquiet within CORD over the activities of the NYS does not augur well for a unit set up to benefit the youth, irrespective of political affiliation. NYS must therefore dispel the notion that it is a political tool.
Let the youth service pursue nationalistic goals and be of real benefit to Kenyans.