NYS servicemen get pay increment

The Government will from next month increase monthly allowances of National Youth Service (NYS) servicemen by 300 per cent.

The allowances, which had stagnated at Sh700, will be increased to Sh2,100 per month, with Sh1,500 being allowances and Sh600 as savings.

This came as 13,725 servicemen and women graduated yesterday from the Gilgil NYS Training College, the highest number in the institution's history.

While representing President Uhuru Kenyatta at the ceremony, Devolution Cabinet Secretary Sicily Kariuki said youths from the NYS programme continue to play a critical role in building the country.

She said revenue paid to the servicemen and women had not been reviewed to reflect the high cost of living.

"The monthly revenue for all NYS servicemen and women, which had for years remained at Sh700, will now be increased to Sh2,100 per month," she said.

In the speech, President Uhuru directed uniformed forces to give the NYS graduates first priority when it recruiting for new staff.

"I am happy that Kenya Police and Prisons have, in their last recruitment exercises, enrolled NYS servicemen and women and other uniformed forces should follow suit," said the President.

He praised NYS, which had a tainted past, saying that under the current management service delivery and operations, it had improved greatly.

Uhuru termed the ongoing youth empowerment programme in the country as one of the major achievements made by NYS.

"To date, the Government has under this programme hired youths in 230 constituencies and we have Sh7.18B as their savings," he said.

President Uhuru also added that under the NYS youth cohorts programme, 580 saccos have been formed across the country and Sh2.54B saved.

"NYS continues to provide services in various development projects like dams, roads, relief supply and distilling of dams and my government will continue to support them," he said.

On recruitment, the head of state said that from 2014, NYS has recruited 52,005 youth, but this will rise to 62,005 in the next intake.

"The current team will later proceed on a four-month vocational training to be at par with current job market and later be involved in national building," he said.

On his part, NYS Director-General Richard Ndubai said the institution was producing its own uniforms after opening a garment section as part of being self-reliant.NYS also plans to package water.