President William Ruto has announced plans to have the National Youth Service (NYS) officers undergo a basic training on use of firearms.
Ruto said this will ensure that the officers are ready to respond and protect the country when a need arises.
He directed the Cabinet Secretaries for Interior, Defence and Public Service to begin talks immediately to make this come to fruition.
“The minister responsible for NYS who is here with me should in consultation with the Ministry of Defence and Interior further initiative to make sure that the paramilitary training that these young men and women go through will include a basic course in firearms,” he said.
Speaking during the pass-out parade of NYS recruits in Gilgil, the head of state also emphasised the need for security agencies to prioritise the absorption of NYS in their recruitment.
Ruto commended Kenya Wildlife Service for heeding to the directive to recruit the ex-NYS recruits during the last recruitment exercise.
He highlighted that out of 790 recruited during the recent exercise, 447 were ex-NYS officers representing 56 percent.
He also directed the Service to increase the number of recruits to 20,000 in their next intake.
He said this year's cohort was almost 15,000 recruits and he is happy about that.
According to Ruto, the government will make sure more young people benefit from trainings offered by the NYS.
"I am very happy the number of recruits was almost 15,000. As I instructed, our intention is that by next year we will recruit 20,000 at a go.
"We are making arrangements as government to make sure more young people benefit from this training and attendant vocational training that comes with it," the President said.
He noted that to increase numbers in the NYS, he has also approved the recruitment of additional Cadets and Private officers to support the Service in doing their work.
"To improve on the numbers as I have directed that the next recruitment will have 20,000 recruits, I have today approved recruitment of 200 additional cadet officers to the NYS and 500 private officers to support in the exemplary work at NYS," he said.
