Fifty Years ago, the Founding Fathers of this nation grappled with a youth bulge that was not ordinary. The nation had emerged from a grueling liberation war, and the youth were at the centre of it.

Their energies were high and their demands were justified. However, the country was too young to absorb the throbbing dreams of the expectant youth. A shift was necessary; one that would translate their raw energies and dreams into nation-building. And this shift was best articulated in the twin philosophy of His Excellency, the late Mzee Jomo Kenyatta when he declared; “…Uhuru na Kazi” and “…Hakuna Cha Bure”.

At the core of this philosophy was the instruction that everyone had to earn through service and hard work. To harness the energy of the youth and realize their dreams, therefore, the His Excellency the late president muted the idea of sending them into National Service. This was to be done through an agency that combined high discipline with much needed vocational training. And to achieve this, His Excellency the president put together a formidable team consisting of the consummate educationist in the person of the late Dr. Geoffrey Griffins and an utmost disciplinarian who served in the Mau Mau war – the late General Waruhiu Itote (General China). Together, the two established the National Youth Service in September 1964.