GILGIL, Kenya – President William Ruto has unveiled a sweeping plan to create one million jobs for young Kenyans, tapping into the National Youth Service (NYS), affordable housing projects, and the expanding digital economy.
Speaking at the NYS paramilitary academy in Gilgil during a passing out parade for more than 18,000 recruits, Ruto said the government’s priority is to “rise above mediocrity” by equipping youth with skills and opportunities that can transform the country’s economic future.
NYS Expansion and Job Creation
The head of state announced that NYS recruitment will rise from 20,000 to 100,000 by 2028, with the service branching into agriculture, construction, textiles, and hospitality.
NYS enterprises are already producing goods such as maize flour and cooking oil, he said, and will soon issue internationally recognised qualifications.
Through initiatives like Climate Worx and Kandarasi Mtaani, tens of thousands of youth will be engaged in environmental restoration, river regeneration, and community housing projects.
Housing and Infrastructure as Engines of Growth
Ruto described housing as a “primary engine of job creation.” Currently, 160,000 affordable housing units are under construction, employing about 320,000 Kenyans. That figure is expected to double in the coming months.
To strengthen skills, 10,000 interns will be placed in housing projects by early 2026, gaining practical experience in fields such as engineering, architecture, and IT.
Digital Economy and Global Labour Mobility
On the digital front, Ruto pointed to the government’s “Digital Superhighway” programme, which has expanded fibre optic coverage by 24,000 kilometres and rolled out more than 1,500 free Wi-Fi hotspots nationwide.
Nearly two million young people have received digital skills training, with 300,000 securing online jobs through platforms like Ajira and Jitume.
Labour agreements with Germany, Canada, and Gulf countries have already opened opportunities for 420,000 Kenyans abroad, while local funds like the Hustler Fund and NYOTA are financing start-ups and international job placements.
A Call to Youth
In a personal appeal, Ruto told graduates that his own journey from “selling chickens by the roadside” to the presidency should serve as a reminder that “hard work, courage, and faith will carry you further than privilege ever could.”
Kenya, he said, must reject “average thinking” and embrace the ambition of becoming a first-world nation within a generation.
