The National Youth Service (NYS) will embark on commercializing its services, as part of its plan to raise revenue for the cash-strapped government organization.
According to Permanent Secretary (PS) for State Department of Youth Affairs, Ismael Maalim Madel the organization will also compete for multi-billion tenders issued by the government.
The PS announced that as he took over the Youth Affairs docket from Mary Kimonye on December 9, 2022.
“I am going to work closely with all stakeholders to work out modalities of transforming the NYS into a commercial entity for the country.”
“This will be done besides realigning the NYS Strategic Plan to the Government’s Manifesto and Vision 2030’s Fourth Medium Term Plan,” the PS announced.
Through contracting out their services, Madel affirmed that NYS would be able to rake in billions in revenue.
Various tenders that NYS can compete in include construction, security and transport logistics services.
“I will engage with everyone concerned to see how to implement the mandate of commercializing the NYS in order to transform it into a viable commercial entity capable of churning out billions of shillings for the exchequer,” the PS stated.
Maalim announced that commercializing NYS was in accordance with the NYS Act of 2018.
According to the Act, NYS is mandated to “train young citizens to serve the nation, and the employment of its members in tasks of national importance and otherwise in the service of the nation.”
On commercialization of skills acquired, the Act states, “NYS members should perform any duty and carry out any training as he may be directed by the officer’s senior to or placed in command over him.”
The act further gives the Youth Affairs state department and cabinet secretary in charge power to make new orders or regulations that concern the service.
