06 February 2024

• One of the youths regretted having the tattoos saying he did not know it would haunt him in future.

Youths who have tattoos were on Tuesday turned away from the National Youth Service recruitment exercise.

Despite most of them qualifying for the recruitment, they had tattoos on their backs and shoulders which cut them out.

The youths who had turned up for the recruitment said most of them had tattoos while in high school.

One of the youths regretted having the tattoos saying he did not know it would haunt him in future.

"I live in Thika and I'm here for the NYS recruitment but it did not go as expected because I have a tattoo which has disqualified me. I had the tattoo while I was in high school at that time it was not a big deal but now I see why my parents were against it," he said.

The NYS recruitment exercise which is taking place countrywide began on Monday, February 5, 2024.

A youth showing off his tattoo during NYS recruitment in Kiambu on February 6, 2024.Image: SCREEN GRAB

NYS is seeking to have at least 15,000 recruits.

Public Service CS Moses Kuria has disclosed that a few anomalies have been reported on the first day of the NYS volunteer recruitment.

He, however, did not disclose what kind of anomalies they were but assured Kenyans that he would address all of them amicably.

"On the first day of the National Youth Service recruitment exercise that I am monitoring very closely, I'm delighted to report that the exercise kicked off on the right footing in different parts of the country. Few anomalies were reported and I can assure all Kenyans that I will address them amicably," he said.

Kuria had earlier assured that he would stand up and protect the rights of the children of the poor in the country, by ensuring they get their rightful share of the 15,000 slots.

Kuria reiterated that no amount of intimidation will make him change his mind on ensuring fairness in the recruitment process.