President William Ruto has announced the recruitment of 10,000 new police officers next month, with 4,000 slots reserved exclusively for graduates of the National Youth Service (NYS).
The announcement came on Thursday, August 28, 2025, during the NYS Recruits Passing-Out Parade at the NYS Paramilitary Academy in Gilgil, Nakuru County, where a record-breaking 18,000 recruits graduated after months of rigorous training.
Ruto said the police recruitment, which had stalled for over three years due to budget constraints, is part of far-reaching reforms aimed at transforming the NYS into a dynamic and productive institution.
“We are undertaking reforms to ensure the NYS is fit for purpose and capable of equipping our young people with market-relevant skills and qualifications that prepare them for the opportunities of the modern job market,” the President declared to loud applause.
According to Ruto, NYS graduates will now benefit from structured training with industry partners, enabling them to transition into higher education, secure positions in disciplined services such as the police and military or venture into entrepreneurship.
To ensure more young Kenyans have access to these opportunities, the government has unveiled an unprecedented expansion plan.
Recruitment into NYS will increase from the current 20,000 to 100,000 by the year 2028, the largest expansion since the institution was founded in 1964.
“This is the most ambitious growth in the history of NYS. By 2028, we want 100,000 young people every year to gain skills that will not only change their lives but also contribute meaningfully to the growth of our nation,” Ruto said.
The President noted that reserving 4,000 police jobs for NYS graduates will create a direct pathway into employment for disciplined young people, many of whom come from disadvantaged backgrounds. He also revealed that NYS alumni will be prioritized in other government programs, including affordable housing projects, which are already creating thousands of jobs across the country.
At the Gilgil campus, Ruto pledged to personally oversee the construction of a new modern kitchen and directed that amenities such as dormitories, classrooms and training grounds be upgraded to accommodate the rising intake. He also instructed the Ministry of Public Service and the National Treasury to allocate more resources to NYS to strengthen its capacity.
“This institution is no longer just about instilling discipline. It is about opportunity, empowerment and dignity for our young people,” he said.
Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja, who attended the ceremony, confirmed that the upcoming recruitment will be conducted online for the first time under a new Police Recruitment System developed by the National Police Service Commission. Applicants will submit their documents digitally and only shortlisted candidates will be invited for physical assessment.
“The system will help us curb fraud and ensure transparency in the recruitment process, which has in the past been tainted by bribery allegations,” Kanja told reporters.
For the government, the expansion of NYS is also being framed as a strategy to tackle rising unemployment among youth, who make up more than 70% of Kenya’s jobless population. Analysts say the reforms, if fully implemented, could significantly improve youth employability and ease pressure on the job market.
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