MP files urgent motion to discuss NYS

An Opposition MP has filed a motion urging the National Assembly to suspend its business on Wednesday afternoon to discuss the affairs of the National Youth Service (NYS) as a matter of “urgent national importance”.

Ugunja MP Opiyo Wandayi says in the notice of motion sent to Deputy Speaker Joyce Laboso that the Kenyan public is greatly concerned about the latest happenings at the National Youth Service.

“The NYS has lately dominated news for all the wrong reasons — reports of attempted fraud amounting to about Sh800 million, power struggles within its leadership, violent public demonstrations and counter-demonstrations regarding its activities, skewed recruitment of the youth contrary to the letter and spirit of the Constitution and general corruption,” Mr Wandayi says.

UNDERMINE ITS CAPACITY

He says that if left to go on unchecked, the state of affairs at the NYS could undermine its capacity as an institution and render it unable to deliver on its mandate.

This would also jeopardise efforts at national cohesion and integration, he says in the notice addressed to the Speaker.

If Dr Laboso accepts this motion, the National Assembly could take at least one hour for discussion, which would give MPs an opportunity to discuss the NYS matter.

The NYS has been in the news since Wednesday last week after the Central Bank notified the Devolution and Planning ministry of large payments from their account.

Devolution Cabinet Secretary Anne Waiguru later said there had been an aborted attempt to irregularly pay out Sh826 million from the NYS.

This has sparked protests and demonstrations in Nairobi and Kisumu.