President Ruto has directed all Kenyans seeking jobs abroad to undergo training at the National Youth Service (NYS) before deployment.
Speaking at the pass-out ceremony of the National Youth Service in Gilgil, Nakuru, on Friday, December 8, Ruto issued the new directive to assist jobseekers in understanding the nature of their jobs and the demands that come with working outside the country.
"Already we are concluding negotiations with Germany, Saudi Arabia, and 8 other countries on the export of labour and NYS will be the central organisation for redeployment training so that Kenyans understand what they need to do for work as labour that is exported," Ruto stated.
The head of state further promised to deploy part of the Ksh38 billion loan secured from India to improve facilitations and machinery for the NYS officers.
"We are going to enhance and modernise the equipment that NYS has, and as part of the modernization, Ksh7.5 billion, part of the negotiation we had with Prime Minister Modi last week, will be deployed to NYS," Ruto stated.
According to Ruto, the funds will enable NYS to grow food around the country and not only deliver theoretical knowledge but also have room to do some practical work.
He further instructed Public Service CS Moses Kuria, who accompanied him to the celebrations, to liaise with his Treasury counterpart Njunguna Ndung'u to ensure the officers benefit from the deal.
After a meeting with the National Security Council (NSC), Ruto also entered into another agreement that will see 80 per cent of the Kenya Defence Forces, Kenya Wildlife Services, and Kenya Police recruits come from NYS.
Furthermore, the government is seeking to recruit 100,000 NYS officers every year for the next five years.
First, it will double the enrollment of Kenyan youths to the NYS from 20,000 to 40,000 starting next year to match the absorption rate.
“We are doubling enrolment to 40,000 in the Service from next year, and have made it absolutely mandatory that every village, centre, town and city in Kenya is properly represented in the recruitment,” Ruto stated on November 9, 2023.
