Kenya Minute.
Tuesday, 27 October 2026
Kenya’s news, on the hourWork with us
Tuesday, 27 October 2026
Nairobi—:—London—:—New York—:—Beijing—:—
Kenyan press · Organization

National Youth Service

Also known as: NYS

Government youth training program that graduates approximately 18,000 annually and is receiving 6.4 billion shillings for expansion to accommodate 50,000 trainees by 2028.

2026-05-012026-10-27

News reports

Order a long-term news report on National Youth Service

Every mention in the Kenyan press over the period you choose, compiled as a PDF or Word document.

Order a news report

Tell us where to reach you and we’ll be in touch to agree the period and format.

In coverage

Verbatim sentences from the source article.

  1. October 2026
  2. The Standard

    … The new party leader further pledged to expand the National Youth Service (NYS) to all 290 constituencies if elected President, saying the programme could play a greater role in engaging young people and supporting national development.The launch marks Wamae’s latest attempt to e …

    Wajackoya deputy Justina Wamae launches Imarisha Uchumi Party
  3. The Standard

    … We must ask ourselves why the government abruptly terminated the mandatory National Youth Service (NYS) program for pre-university students in the early 1990s. …

    Dead cat in lecture hall: Why varsity strike is a red herring
  4. Citizen Digital

    … bers of visitors. window._taboola = window._taboola || []; _taboola.push({ mode: 'thumbnails-m', container: 'taboola-mid-article-thumbnails', placement: 'Mid Article Thumbnails', target_type: 'mix' }); National Government Administration Officers (NGAOs) and National Youth Service …

    Security, traffic measures in place ahead of Mashujaa Day fete in Eldoret
  5. Citizen Digital

    … Audio By Vocalize Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru has defended herself against criticism over the National Youth Service (NYS) corruption scandal, saying those who continue to bring it up years later are trying to tarnish her name. …

    'Everybody has got a stain,' Waguru says on NYS scandal allegations
  6. Citizen Digital

    … Audio By Vocalize Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru has defended herself against criticism over the National Youth Service (NYS) corruption scandal, saying those who continue to bring it up years later are trying to tarnish her name. …

    'Everybody has got a stain,' Waiguru says on NYS scandal allegations
  7. The Standard

    … Motorists and visitors have been urged to follow instructions from traffic officers, observe road signs and cooperate with security personnel to ease movement within the city.National Government Administration Officers (NGAOs) and National Youth Service personnel will help guide …

    Security heightened in Eldoret ahead of Mashujaa Day celebrations
  8. Capital News

    … The annual service was held on October 17 at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Cathedral in Machakos, bringing together officers and their families from the National Police Service (NPS), Kenya Prisons Service, Kenya Wildlife Service, Kenya Forest Service and National Youth Service. …

    Security officers urged to seek mental health support, uphold integrity
  9. Capital News

    NAIROBI, Kenya, Oct 14 – Members of the National Assembly have backed a proposal to create employment opportunities for National Youth Service (NYS) graduates by prioritising their recruitment into government institutions and private security firms. …

    MPs back plan to create security jobs for NYS graduates
  10. The Standard

    Audio By VocalizeMembers of Parliament have questioned the fate of approximately 18,000 young Kenyans who graduate from the National Youth Service (NYS) annually, calling on the Government to establish clear employment pathways for the trained youth. …

    MPs question fate of annual NYS graduates
  11. Capital News

    … The tree-growing exercise was conducted simultaneously at four sites in Laikipia: the KDF Nanyuki Base, Lombere Dam, the National Youth Service (NYS) Kirimon site and South Marmanet. …

    BATUK, KDF lead planting of 200,000 trees in Laikipia during Mazingira Week
Politics

Wajackoya's ex-deputy launches Imarisha Uchumi Party

The News

Former Roots Party running mate Justina Wamae has launched a new political outfit, Imarisha Uchumi Party, ahead of the 2027 General Election, pledging to allocate 25 per cent of the national budget to agriculture and address youth unemployment through merit-based employment systems.

25 October 2026 · The Standard →

Sunday 25 October

  1. Wajackoya's ex-deputy launches Imarisha Uchumi Party

    Former Roots Party running mate Justina Wamae has launched a new political outfit, Imarisha Uchumi Party, ahead of the 2027 General Election, pledging to allocate 25 per cent of the national budget to agriculture and address youth unemployment through merit-based employment systems.

    25 October 2026 · The Standard →

Friday 23 October

  1. Varsity strike distracts from state's larger governance failures

    An opinion piece argues that the state's failure to resolve repeated university lecturers' strikes is not accidental but deliberate—a "dead cat" tactic to divert public attention from macro-economic mismanagement, sovereign debt deals, and executive corruption.

    23 October 2026 · The Standard →

Monday 19 October

  1. Security deployed for Eldoret Mashujaa Day celebration October 20

    Security agencies have intensified patrols and deployed additional personnel in Eldoret ahead of Tuesday's Mashujaa Day celebrations at Kipchoge Keino Stadium. The Rift Valley Regional Commissioner said comprehensive security and traffic management measures have been put in place for the stadium, parking areas, hotels, and critical installations.

    19 October 2026 · Citizen Digital →

  2. Waiguru defends record against NYS scandal allegations

    Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru has defended herself against criticism over the National Youth Service corruption scandal, saying those who continue to bring it up years later are trying to tarnish her name and that those implicated in the case have already faced prosecution.

    19 October 2026 · Citizen Digital →

  3. Waiguru defends record, dismisses NYS scandal criticism

    Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru responded to ongoing criticism over her involvement in the National Youth Service corruption scandal, saying those who raise it years later are trying to tarnish her name and that those implicated have already faced prosecution.

    19 October 2026 · Citizen Digital →

  4. Security beefed up in Eldoret for Mashujaa Day at stadium

    Additional police have been deployed to hotspots in Eldoret ahead of Mashujaa Day celebrations at Kipchoge Keino Stadium on Tuesday, with enhanced traffic management and intensified patrols to ensure a safe and orderly event. The Rift Valley Regional Commissioner warned that criminal activity, threats to public safety, and disruptions to peace will be dealt with according to the law.

    19 October 2026 · The Standard →

Sunday 18 October

  1. Security officers urged to seek mental health support

    At an inter-agency thanksgiving service in Machakos, religious and government leaders urged security and disciplined services officers to prioritise mental health and seek psychological, professional and spiritual support when facing work-related challenges, while upholding integrity and respect for human dignity.

    18 October 2026 · Capital News →

Wednesday 14 October

  1. MPs support hiring NYS graduates for security roles

    Members of Parliament have backed a proposal to prioritise the recruitment of National Youth Service graduates into government institutions and private security firms to address youth unemployment. The motion seeks a policy framework for deploying NYS graduates, who number about 18,000 annually, as security officers in public institutions.

    14 October 2026 · Capital News →

  2. MPs call for employment pathways for 18,000 annual NYS graduates

    Members of Parliament have questioned what happens to approximately 18,000 young Kenyans who graduate from the National Youth Service annually, calling on the Government to establish clear employment pathways and prioritise their absorption into the private security industry and government institutions.

    14 October 2026 · The Standard →

Saturday 10 October

  1. BATUK, KDF plant 200,000 trees in Laikipia during Mazingira Week

    The British Army Training Unit in Kenya, Kenya Defence Forces, and government officials planted 200,000 trees in Laikipia County as part of President Ruto's Green Challenge, part of a nationwide initiative to plant 5.1 million trees across 31 counties during Mazingira Week celebrations.

    10 October 2026 · Capital News →

  2. President Ruto attends national tree-planting campaign in Trans Nzoia

    President William Ruto is expected to attend Mazingira Day celebrations in Trans Nzoia County on Saturday as the government launches a nationwide campaign targeting 17.24 million trees. The exercise involves government agencies, schools, communities, village elders, prison authorities and the National Youth Service across 79 sites in 31 counties.

    10 October 2026 · Capital News →

Tuesday 6 October

  1. Government targets 17.24 million trees with post-campaign survival tracking

    Kenya's Government is conducting a six-day environmental campaign ending October 10 to plant 17.24 million trees across schools, mining areas, highways and communities. The Government will count, geo-tag and certify all trees planted and conduct 90-day survival checks, plus track tree-growing pledges quarterly.

    6 October 2026 · The Standard →

  2. Kenya targets 17.24 million trees during Mazingira Week

    The Government has set a target of planting 17.24 million trees during this year's National Mazingira Week to restore degraded ecosystems and move closer to its goal of planting 15 billion trees by 2032. The week-long programme involves educational institutions, mining area restoration, and highway greening, with the Cabinet Secretary emphasizing that survival of planted trees matters more than the number planted.

    6 October 2026 · The Standard →

Monday 5 October

  1. Kenya targets 17 million trees during Mazingira Week 2026

    Kenya is targeting over 17 million trees during this year's Mazingira Week, which runs from October 5–10, as part of efforts to achieve a goal of growing 15 billion trees by 2032. The campaign involves seven planting streams across communities, government institutions, and educational institutions, with village elders leading one stream targeting 7.7 million trees across 77,252 villages.

    5 October 2026 · Citizen Digital →

  2. Government activates national plan for El Niño response

    The government has activated the National Contingency Plan to mitigate anticipated El Niño rains, scaling up interventions through cooperation among security agencies, evacuation procedures, and access route mapping. Search and rescue operations will involve the Kenya Coast Guard Service, Kenya Defence Forces, National Police Service, Kenya Red Cross Society, and National Youth Service.

    5 October 2026 · Citizen Digital →

  3. Kenya activates national response plan for El Niño rains

    The government has activated a comprehensive national response plan ahead of the expected onset of El Niño rains, coordinating interventions through the National Disaster Operations Centre with multiple emergency agencies on standby for search-and-rescue operations, evacuation, health monitoring, and infrastructure support.

    5 October 2026 · Capital News →

Saturday 3 October

  1. Government allocates 6.4 billion shillings for NYS expansion

    The government has committed Ksh. 6.4 billion to expand National Youth Service training infrastructure, aiming to recruit up to 100,000 young people by 2028. The investment will fund new facilities to increase NYS capacity to accommodate about 50,000 trainees at any given time.

    3 October 2026 · Citizen Digital →

  2. KPA seek to complete semi-final sweep of Th3 Swish

    Kenya Ports Authority, defending champions, lead Th3 Swish 2-0 in their best-of-five semi-final play-off series and seek to seal a finals spot when the teams clash again in Mombasa. Th3 Swish, semi-final first-timers, showed improvement in game two by narrowing the margin to 13 points after losing game one by 40.

    3 October 2026 · The Standard →

  3. Nakuru executives grilled over misused funds and stalled projects

    Top Nakuru County Government executives faced hours of questioning before the County Assembly over alleged misuse of funds, failed projects, and unaccountability. A CECM for Lands acknowledged the county had paid Sh4.47 million towards a Sh6 million ECDE land purchase in Gilgil but could not explain the two-year delay in resolving the transaction.

    3 October 2026 · The Standard →

Friday 2 October

  1. KCB Rugby faces KCB KOBS in friendly match on Saturday

    KCB Rugby Club will play Uganda's KCB KOBS in a friendly match dubbed "sibling rivalry" on October 3, 2026, at the KCB Sports Club in Ruaraka, bringing together two KCB-sponsored clubs from Kenya and Uganda to strengthen regional connections.

    2 October 2026 · Citizen Digital →

  2. Nairobi concludes multi-agency El Niño preparedness drill

    Nairobi County completed a two-day Operation Okoa Maisha simulation exercise at Central Park to test preparedness for floods and emergencies, with neighbouring counties Kiambu, Machakos and Kajiado joining national disaster-response agencies under a unified coordination framework.

    2 October 2026 · Citizen Digital →

Thursday 24 September

  1. Police reservists to receive medical cover and improved terms

    The government is moving to provide medical cover for National Police Service Reservists and improve their terms of service, including automating salary processing and ensuring timely payment of allowances. Inspector General Douglas Kanja announced these measures during the graduation of 705 reservists at Magado Field Training Camp in Igembe North, Meru County.

    24 September 2026 · The Standard →

Sunday 20 September

  1. Governor Waiguru implicated in Sh791 million NYS fraud case

    Kirinyaga Governor Ann Waiguru has been drawn into a Sh791 million corruption saga by former National Youth Service procurement boss Henrick Pilisi, who is serving a seven-year prison sentence for fraud.

    20 September 2026 · The Standard →

Friday 4 September

  1. Athletics Kenya advances women's inclusion in coaching and leadership

    Athletics Kenya is prioritizing women's representation in coaching, officiating and leadership roles to align with World Athletics' target of 40 per cent female representation on executive boards by 2029. The federation trained 44 women from affiliated regions on a CECS Level 1 coaching course in October.

    4 September 2026 · The Standard →

Thursday 3 September

  1. NYS officers live in squalid conditions despite service dedication

    Thousands of men and women in the National Youth Service are living in squalid conditions despite playing a key role in keeping order in government installations and their dedication to serve.

    3 September 2026 · The Standard →

Wednesday 2 September

  1. Matiang'i alleges new police uniforms scheme benefits top leaders

    Jubilee deputy party leader Fred Matiang'i has alleged that the government's move to introduce new police uniforms is a money-making scheme for individuals in power, who use their companies to supply uniforms at inflated prices. He argues Kenya has the capacity to produce uniforms through institutions like the National Youth Service and Kenya Police Service, and that the proposed Ksh2.8 billion procurement could be redirected to other sectors.

    2 September 2026 · Citizen Digital →

  2. Maraga taskforce identifies police transport as critical security weakness

    Kenya's police transport system has been identified as a critical weakness in the delivery of security services. The National Taskforce on Improvement of Terms and Conditions of Service and Other Reforms for Members of the National Police Service, Kenya Prisons Service and National Youth Service, chaired by former Chief Justice David Maraga, examined the problem in detail in its 2023 report.

    2 September 2026 · The Standard →

Tuesday 1 September

  1. Maraga releases suppressed police reform report with 200-plus recommendations

    Retired Chief Justice David Maraga published a police reform taskforce report on social media after the government withheld it for nearly three years. The 200-plus recommendations address issues facing police officers, prison warders, and other state personnel regarding housing, pay, and training.

    1 September 2026 · Citizen Digital →

Monday 31 August

  1. Matiang'i criticises Ruto government's costly police uniform change

    Former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i has questioned the government's decision to change police uniforms, arguing that public resources should be used more efficiently by tapping into existing state capacity. Matiang'i said his administration used NYS and other public institutions alongside the private sector to produce uniforms while controlling costs, in contrast to the current approach.

    31 August 2026 · Capital News →

  2. Editorial calls for scrutiny of Sh2.8 billion police uniform procurement

    The Standard's opinion piece questions both the necessity of President Ruto's new police uniform initiative and the procurement process used, arguing that Sh2.8 billion would be better spent on officer housing, pay, and mental health care rather than changing uniforms that replicate a previously abandoned colour scheme.

    31 August 2026 · The Standard →

National Youth Service — Kenyan press coverage · Kenya Minute