Ruto Moves to Quadruple Kenya’s National Youth Service Intake by 2027

President William Ruto has directed the rapid expansion of Kenya’s National Youth Service, raising annual intake to 100,000 recruits within the next three years from roughly 18,000 today. Speaking at the 89th recruits’ passing-out parade in Gilgil, Nakuru County, on 28 August, the president said the move is meant to scale up skills training, job creation and youth employment programmes across the country. Ruto also ordered the Ministry of Interior to absorb 4,000 NYS graduates in the next National Police Service recruitment cycle, part of a broader plan to channel trained youth into security, agriculture, engineering and construction roles. He highlighted ongoing investment in digital job portals, equipment-leasing platforms and sector-specific centres of excellence as the service’s mandate expands into areas such as textiles and food processing.