Soon National Youth Service (NYS) recruits will be taught how to operate firearms.
President William Ruto has ordered the trainers to start a mandatory basic firearms training so the recruits can be used to defend the country when need arises.
Ruto was presiding over the 88th National Youth Service Recruits Pass-Out Parade in Gilgil, Nakuru county.
He said his government has upheld its commitment to recruit significant numbers of servicemen and women into the Kenya Defence Forces and also ensured other job placements for NYS graduates.
“The NYS remains indispensable to our efforts to enhance public service delivery and national security,” Ruto said.
The president added that out of the 790 officers recruited to the Kenya Wildlife Service, 447 were ex-NYS recruits.
“This is a 56 percent overall living to my directive that all security agencies must give priority to our NYS men and women because of their demonstrated discipline, capability and paramilitary training,” Ruto said.
