NYS Says Ksh.11 Billion Allocation For 2025/25 Insufficient
The National Youth Service (NYS) has expressed worry that its Ksh.11.18 billion allocation for the fiscal year 2025/26 is insufficient to fund its initiatives.
According to Commandant-General James Tembur’s 2025 Budget Policy Statement (BPS), the service will receive Ksh.11.18 billion in the current fiscal year, which begins in July.
Ksh.10.06 billion is recurring spending, with Ksh.115 million going toward development.
However, the service, which was changed in 2019 from a state department to a fully-fledged semi-autonomous state company, requires Ksh.26.48 billion, resulting in a Ksh.15.3 billion deficit.
NYS claims it would not meet the projected costs connected with higher recruit numbers after President Ruto’s 2023 mandate to boost annual intake from 10,000 to 100,000 adolescents.
Ruto also pushed NYS to become self-sustaining by the fiscal year 2027/28.
“Resource requirements for the service for the financial year 2025-2026 took into consideration the presidential directive to increase the youth intake that is to be implemented in a phased approach,” says the policy statement Pubic Service Cabinet Secretary Justin Muturi.
STRENGTHENING NYS FOR A BRIGHTER FUTURE
— Hon. Justin Muturi, EGH (@HonJBMuturi) February 25, 2025
Early this morning, I received a briefing on the National Youth Service (NYS) 2025 Budget Policy Statement from the NYS technical team, led by Commandant General Mr. James Tembur.
NYS remains a critical institution in shaping our… pic.twitter.com/481Zx8PCeX
The statement was delivered before the National Assembly’s Social Protection Committee on Wednesday.
Muturi informed lawmakers that with the funding, NYS will be unable to attract the 40,000 youth it expects to enroll in two cohorts.
“The Service has recruited 20,000 youth in the third quarter of 2024/2025 in line with the President’s directive. It is worth noting that the budget for FY2024/2025 can only accommodate 10,000 youths,” the minister said.
NYS previously requested more cash for 10,000 more recruits awaiting consideration and was granted Ksh. 1 billion for food and rations.
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However, the new fiscal year’s allocation has reduced it by Ksh. 500 million.
At the same time, NYS claims it cannot achieve its development needs, such as infrastructural improvements to house and train recruits, with the allocated funds.
Muturi stated that the lack of a development budget in the current fiscal year ending in June “complicated the Service’s efforts in improving its already overstretched dilapidated facilities”.
“Existing infrastructure and facilities including barracks, dining halls, classrooms, workshops, water and sanitation systems and security walls in all field units are in deplorable conditions, strained and remain inadequate,” the CS told Parliament.
NYS Says Ksh.11 Billion Allocation For 2025/25 Insufficient
