Youth protest over delayed launch of NYS projects

Youth protest over delayed launch of NYS projects

Hundreds of youth in Embu Town took to the streets to protest over the delayed launch of National Youth Service (NYS).

The protestors, consisting of youth from six wards in Manyatta Constituency, marched for 5 kilometers from Kangaru Girl’s High School Grounds to the Manyatta Constituency Development Fund Offices accusing the area MP John Muchiri of deception.

Njuki Murimi, one of the youth, said that the MP recruited them 6 months ago with the promise of giving them NYS projects though nothing has come out of it.

Murimi said that the MP has called them for three meetings telling them to come prepared and ready to work, only to frustrate them later.

“We received a short message that we all converge at Kangaru Girls for the final meeting so that we can start working. We arrived here at 9am but up to now he has not arrived or even communicated on what to do next,” the youth lamented.

Jennifer Wanyaga said that the MP has been giving them Sh100 every time they meet, an amount that does not even cater for their transport.

“In the three meetings, we have left our other sources of income with the hope of the landing jobs but the MP has continued to disappoint us,” she said.

The youth now want the MP to come clean on the matter so that they can know whether there is hope of them landing the NYS projects.

However, Manyatta constituency ward Manager Dedan Gitahi defended the MP saying the delay has been caused by failure for the NYS offices in Nairobi to send their staff and biometric registration machines for the job.

He said the youth will be employed immediately the biometric registration begins.

Last year, thousands of youth in different parts of the country held protests over delays in the release of more than Sh900 million owed to them by NYS after completion of the first phase of the project.

In Kisumu, youth held protests last month demanding a full refund of their Sacco contributions. Police had to fire in the air to disperse them.

In Nyeri, youth complained that NYS had not helped them to form Saccos as promised yet their money was lying in the bank.

Ms Ann Mwangi, one of the NYS recruits said Sh705 has been deducted every week for the last three months that she worked in the programme.

“There is no direction on when we will receive the cash or if it is earning interest in the bank,” said Ms Mwangi.

Youth in Meru, Murang’a and parts of Kiambu have also voiced their concerns over the project.

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Embu town Hundreds of youths demonstrate in the streets of Embu town over delayed NYS projects. Area MP John Muchiri Manyatta constituency Ward Manager Dedan Gitahi NYS program.

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