Biometric data drive targets NYS 'ghosts'

The number of "ghost youths" in the National Youth Service will be known after an ongoing biometric registration exercise.

The exercise that commenced last Thursday in 69 constituencies where NYS Youth empowerment programme had been running will be concluded Tuesday.

"The exercise is meant to weed out ghost youths, ensure integrity of the payroll and make it easier for NYS officers to monitor work attendance," said a statement from NYS.

Meanwhile, NYS youths have been deployed to Malindi to manage the environment and rehabilitation of youth suffering from drug abuse.

Public Service, Youth and Gender Affairs Cabinet Secretary Sicily Kariuki directed the NYS to launch the programme beginning this week. It will involve cleaning, garbage collection and unclogging of drainage.

The NYS has also been allowed to engage more than 1,000 youths from the local communities in the programme.

The NYS personnel will also team up with officials from the anti-drugs agency, Nacada, to launch an immediate programme of rehabilitating youth affected by drugs in Malindi. Other areas of Mombasa are being mapped out for similar a programme.