The Lower Eastern Times Opening The Third Eye
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As the National Youth Service (NYS) continues its recruitment drive for 15,000 volunteer servicemen and women nationwide, many young individuals in Thika, Kiambu County attended the exercise at Thika Stadium on Tuesday. They underwent thorough screening, with close examination of their academic credentials and physical attributes.
However, almost three individuals were refused entry due to tattoos on their bodies. Despite meeting the academic requirements, they were deemed ineligible because of their body art.
Peterson Mwangi, one of those disqualified due to a tattoo, expressed his disappointment, revealing that he acquired the tattoo during his time in secondary school when it was considered fashionable. He regretted not heeding his parents’ advice against getting the tattoo, a decision he now regrets years after completing school.
These individuals have appealed for assistance from tattoo removal experts to eliminate the body marks in order to meet the government’s eligibility criteria for opportunities.
Furthermore, other candidates faced disqualification due to inaccuracies in their national identity cards, with many cards indicating their birthplaces far from the recruitment center.
Despite the low turnout, many youths expressed their eagerness to seize the opportunities provided after completing NYS training.
Zachary Mwangi, a youth leader from Thika, Kiambu County, urged parents to assist their children in accurately registering for national identification to avoid errors that could disqualify them from NYS opportunities. He also appealed to parents to counsel their children against tattooing their bodies, as this led to the disqualification of many youths from joining the service.
The NYS recruitment exercise has been ongoing since yesterday, with each sub-county allocated 33 slots per ward based on population distribution as per the government’s schedule.
