Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Public Service Geoffrey Ruku has dismissed reports linking National Youth Service (NYS) to fresh corruption scandals that amount to Ksh6.2 billion ($48.1 million), saying no public funds were stolen and that stringent measures are in place to protect taxpayers’ money.

Commenting on the alleged scandal, Ruku said the allegations being circulated relate to dubious claims dating back to 2013-2016 and do not reflect the current state of the institution.

“The NYS has a clean slate. We have ensured any claims involving pending bills from those years have thoroughly been investigated and audited. The government has not paid any fraudulent or fictitious suppliers,” Ruku said.

NYS is an organisation run by the government that was established in 1964 to train young people in important national duties. However. In 2019, it transitioned from a state department to a semi-autonomous state corporation after enactment of NYS Act (2018) by parliament.

According to the new report, NYS III scandal is an attempt by senior individuals in government and companies to resurrect old, questionable pending bills through forged local purchase orders and delivery notes for goods that were never supplied.

Investigative agencies, including the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), have already moved to freeze the payments through court orders.

The cabinet secretary added that the government is working closely with the judiciary and other oversight institutions to ensure that no public money is lost through what he termed as “fictitious and opportunistic schemes.”

“Making scandalous headlines does not help the country. What matters is that the systems are working. Those dubious deals have not and will not be paid, and Kenyans will not lose their money,” he promised.

Ruku further described NYS as a strong and healthy institution. He discussed that plans are underway to recruit more youth into the service next month, reinforcing its role as one of the country’s most important public institutions.

He was speaking during the official opening of Huduma Centre in Gatundu North Sub County in Kiambu County, accompanied by area MP Elijah Kururia.

About the drought that is ravaging arid and semi-arid parts of the country, the cabinet secretary assured Kenyans that the government has sufficient food stocks in national reserves and has already rolled out a major relief food distribution programme targeting 23 arid and semi-arid land counties.

He said counties in question are, among others, Turkana, Marsabit, Mandera, Wajir and other arid and semi-arid areas are already receiving relief supplies, including maize and rice, to cushion vulnerable households during the ongoing drought.

“As of January 2026, the government has enough food to ensure no Kenyan suffers because of lack of food,” Ruku said.

• _{A Tell Media / KNA report / By Muoki Charles}

In addition to food for human consumption, the government is also providing livestock feeds to support pastoralist communities, noting that camels and cattle will be adequately catered for.

Ruku emphasised that chiefs and their assistants will play a key role in ensuring fair and transparent distribution of relief food to all affected populations, as the government intensifies efforts to avert hunger in drought-hit regions.