President Uhuru Kenyatta says he is confident the cloud of turbulence that rocked the National Youth Service (NYS) since last year has been overcome and warned rogue individuals against derailing operations of the service.
Speaking yesterday when he presided over the passing-out parade of 10,000 NYS recruits in Gilgil, Nakuru, the President said elements who try to subvert the dreams of the Kenyan youth and the future of the country will only be overcome by the resilience of men and women of goodwill.
“They will always be overcome by youth who choose the path of hard work and hope, over the easy path of corruption and sloth,” he said. He said his Government would always support Kenyans who steer away from corruption adding that the appointment of a new leadership to NYS was crucial because of the transformative value the service has to the youth.
“For as long as I am President, we will support the National Youth Service, and we will invest in the youth. For those who need a reason, the bright faces of these thousands of young people graduating today are your answer,” he said.
Last year, former Devolution Cabinet secretary Anne Waiguru resigned after Sh791 million was reportedly siphoned from the service’s accounts, a scandal which also saw other senior NYS officers charged in court.
The protracted saga interfered with the operations of the service forcing the postponement of yesterday’s graduation of the by over five months. Deputy President William Ruto, who was also present, said NYS mandate of transforming Kenyan youth has been phenomenal under President Uhuru’s leadership.
“The opportunity given to thousands of young people from across the country who would otherwise not have had this opportunity to be skilled, to be trained and to assume their places in the transformation of our country is an opportunity that is unique,” said the Deputy President. He said the transformation brought about by the NYS to the youth empowerment programme in the country will be scaled up to benefit hundreds of thousands more of Kenyan youth waiting to take their place in the institution.
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