Editorials

EDITORIAL: Get competent NYS board

nys

The move on Tuesday to transform the agency into a parastatal is long overdue. FILE PHOTO | NMG

The Cabinet has finally woken up to the reality that drastic reforms at the National Youth Service (NYS) are needed to rein in mega corruption scandals that have become synonymous with the institution.

The move on Tuesday to transform the agency into a parastatal is long overdue. The Executive says this will help to seal managerial and operational loopholes that have exposed the NYS to massive looting. Even though it comes late in the day after malfeasance has cost taxpayers billions of shillings in a wanton theft of public funds, it is a move in the right direction.

The NYS, established in 1964 through an Act of Parliament, has noble objectives of training youth in various technical and life skills. It has played a big role in instilling in the youth a sense of patriotism, character formation and work ethic.

Unless the NYS constitutes a board comprising men and women of integrity without vested personal, business and political interests, the changes will be an exercise in futility.

Recently, parastatals have been entangled in a web of mega corruption scandals despite having boards.

State-owned firms should not become the dumping ground of political rejects, creating a system of cronyism and patronage that breeds impunity in the management of the public institutions.