GILGIL, Kenya — The National Youth Service (NYS) has launched the construction of 120 staff housing units at the NYS Paramilitary Academy in Gilgil, marking a major step in the government’s ongoing efforts to improve staff welfare and expand institutional capacity.
The ground-breaking ceremony was presided over by Deputy Commandant General Evans Yaite, who represented the NYS Commandant General. Yaite said the housing project was a long-standing aspiration for the Service and reflected the government’s commitment to transforming NYS infrastructure and improving living conditions for its personnel.
“This project is a dream come true for the National Youth Service,” Yaite said. “It demonstrates the government’s resolve to invest in the welfare of our staff and strengthen the operational effectiveness of the Service.”
The staff housing project forms part of a broader infrastructure expansion programme at the Gilgil academy. It will complement the planned construction of recruits’ barracks designed to accommodate more than 30,000 recruits once completed.
NYS officials say the combined developments are expected to significantly enhance efficiency, staff retention, and training outcomes at the facility.
According to NYS, the Gilgil academy plays a central role in the training and deployment of youth for national service, skills development, and paramilitary duties. Improved housing is expected to ease logistical pressures on staff and support the academy’s expanding mandate.
Also present at the ceremony was Richard Tuta, MBS, HSC, the Rift Valley Regional Lead at the State Department for Housing and Urban Development. He said the project aligns with the government’s wider housing and institutional development agenda, particularly for security and service-oriented agencies.
Senior NYS officials in attendance included SACG Loice Koech, MBS, Director of the NYS Paramilitary Academy; ACG George Kamau, Deputy Director; and ACG Philip Koech, Head of Building at NYS Headquarters. Other senior government officials were also present.
The housing initiative comes amid increased government focus on strengthening NYS capacity as part of broader public service and youth empowerment reforms. Recent policy discussions have emphasised the role of NYS in national development, disaster response, infrastructure support, and youth employment.
Officials said the Gilgil project is expected to set the pace for similar investments in other NYS institutions across the country, as the Service modernises its facilities to meet growing operational demands.
