Ruto presides over NYS passing-out parade in Nakuru
President William Ruto has presided over the passing-out parade of this year’s National Youth Service (NYS) cohort.
The colourful ceremony was held at the Gilgil NYS Training College on Wednesday, August 27, 2025.
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The Head of State, who was accompanied by top government officials, was welcomed with a guard of honour mounted by the NYS recruits.
After arriving at the grounds, he inspected the guard of honour as thousands of families and guests cheered on.
NYS as a youth empowerment pillar
Although the President had not addressed the gathering by press time, his presence underscored the significance the government attaches to NYS as a vehicle for youth empowerment.
The recruits, who have undergone months of paramilitary and technical training, are expected to serve in community projects before proceeding to technical institutions to acquire further skills.
During last year’s passing-out ceremony in Gilgil, Ruto announced plans to expand the number of recruits to 20,000 in future intakes.
He further directed that NYS graduates be given priority during recruitment into national security agencies, citing their discipline and preparedness.
“Out of the 790 officers recently recruited by the Kenya Wildlife Service, 440 were NYS graduates,” he said during the 2024 event, adding that NYS must remain a hub of integrity, free from corruption and inefficiency.
Reform debates
Ruto’s Nakuru tour this year comes at a time when the country is caught in heated discussions over possible constitutional amendments.
The proposals, if adopted, could introduce sweeping reforms touching on governance, devolution, and national institutions, including NYS.
Observers argue that the service may be called upon to play a bigger role in addressing unemployment and climate action.
As the parade continued, dignitaries, recruits’ families, and the public awaited the President’s formal speech, expected to highlight the future of NYS and the government’s broader youth agenda.
The event, marked by pomp, precision drills, and cultural performances, reaffirmed NYS’s enduring place in Kenya’s national development story.
