Nairobi — The government has dismissed reports linking the National Youth Service (NYS) to a fresh Sh6.2 billion corruption scandal, insisting that no public money has been lost and that all questionable claims have been halted.
Cabinet Secretary for Public Service, Human Capital Development and Special Programmes Geoffrey Ruku said all pending bills associated with the disputed claims have been thoroughly investigated and audited, with no fraudulent payments made by the government.
“We have ensured any claims involving pending bills from those years have been thoroughly investigated and audited. The government has not paid for any fraudulent or fictitious supplies,” Ruku said.
The Cabinet Secretary clarified that the allegations being circulated relate to dubious claims dating back to the 2013–2016 period and do not reflect the current state of the NYS. He noted that the so-called “NYS III” scandal involves attempts by individuals and companies to revive old, questionable pending bills using forged local purchase orders and delivery notes for goods that were never supplied.
According to Ruku, investigative agencies including the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) have already obtained court orders to freeze the disputed payments, effectively preventing any loss of public funds.
He added that the government is working closely with the Judiciary and other oversight institutions to ensure that taxpayers’ money is protected from what he described as “fictitious and opportunistic schemes.”
“Putting scandalous headlines does not help the country. Those dubious deals have not and will not be paid, and Kenyans will not lose their money,” Ruku said.
Reaffirming confidence in the National Youth Service, the Cabinet Secretary described the institution as strong and healthy, saying it continues to play a critical role in youth empowerment and national development. He revealed that plans are underway to recruit more young people into the service next month as part of efforts to strengthen its mandate.
The government has reiterated its commitment to accountability and transparency, assuring Kenyans that safeguards are firmly in place to prevent any repeat of past abuses at the NYS.
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