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.
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.
Verbatim sentences from the source article.
The Standard
… The National Youth Service (NYS) has been contracted to manufacture specialised gear for NPRs, with distribution already underway, according to the CS.The welfare measures come as the government expands efforts to provide support for reservists who assist the National Police Serv …
Police reservists to get medical cover as 705 graduate in MeruThe Standard
Kirinyaga Governor Ann Waiguru has been drawn into the Sh791 million corruption saga by former National Youth Service (NYS) procurement boss Henrick Pilisi, who is serving a seven-year prison sentence for fraud. …
Waiguru roped into Sh791 million NYS saga by former procurement bossThe Standard
… The programme was also open to affiliated institutions including the Kenya Defence Forces, National Police Service, Kenya Prisons, National Youth Service, Kenya Forest Service and Kenyan universities. …
How Athletics Kenya is working to close the gender gapThe Standard
President William Ruto during the National Youth Service recruits passing-out parade at NYS paramilitary Academy in Gilgil, on December 8, 2023. …
NYS officers living a dog's life despite their dedication and serviceCitizen Digital
… He argued that Kenya has the capacity to source labour from national security institutions like the National Youth Service (NYS), the Kenya Police Service (KPS) and other partners to procure uniforms without wasting public resources. …
Matiang'i: New police uniform is just a money-making scheme for top leadersThe Standard
… 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 …
Maraga taskforce on police transportCitizen Digital
… In March 2023, its mandate widened to include the National Youth Service, with a broad remit to examine the legal, policy, administrative and operational problems facing all three institutions after consulting the public and other stakeholders. …
Maraga report: What ails police service and Ksh.106 billion reform blueprintCapital News
… He said the approach used under his administration brought together the National Youth Service (NYS), other public institutions and the private sector to produce the uniforms while controlling costs and creating opportunities for Kenyans. …
Matiang’i faults Ruto’s regime costly approach to new police uniformsThe Standard
… These are facts any credible procurement process should have addressed.When the previous administration changed the uniform, the contract went to the National Youth Service, a public body answerable to Parliament and the Auditor General. …
Probe procurement process of Sh2.8 billion police uniformThe Standard
… More recently, plans for a large tree nursery and temporary accommodation for National Youth Service personnel in Karura sparked another dispute. …
The unending fight for forests, 16 years after KatibaFormer 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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →