President Uhuru Kenyatta has insisted that the NYS programme has had its successes despite the mismanagement witnessed in the system recently. Speaking during the Jamhuri Day celebrations at Nyayo Stadium in Nairobi, the President pointed to the successes achieved, “As we seek to empower our youth I will not shy away from making reference to the NYS,” he said, “Despite the challenges that our National Youth Service Programme has faced, it has delivered some very clear and tangible successes.”
“For instance since 2013 the programme has employed over 91,334 cohorts spread over 21 constituencies across the country. The programme has expended Ksh 5.4 Billion of which Ksh 3.4 Billion has been paid out as direct wages to those recruited while the balance has gone towards savings,” he added.
“Please have comfort that all those involved in pilfering resources earmarked for our youth will be held to account,” he said.
He urged Kenyans to be clear with the impact the programme has had on the country, “I would like to urge Kenyans to draw a clear distinction between the positive impact of the NYS Programme and the deplorable mismanagement of the past orchestrated by individuals who were determined to railroad its success.”
President Kenyatta also highlighted the development made in the education sector, “Our fathers went to war to ensure we are a society free of ignorance,” he said, citing that Kenya’s education system is ranked first in Africa, and 30th worldwide. “Today, nine of ten of our children have access to a place in a public primary school,” he said, “Recall that 50 years ago, only 35% of our sons and daughters had that opportunity.”
With the ongoing digital literacy project in full swing, the President said eighty thousand teachers have been trained. “By next year, every child from Standard One to Standard Three will have access to the digital devices.”
