The Ruto administration is facing serious questions after fresh details emerged about another scandal at the National Youth Service, this time involving billions of shillings paid for supplies that were never delivered. The issue has triggered public anger and renewed debate about corruption and accountability in government.
According to a detailed report published by The Standard on January 16, 2026, investigators uncovered an alleged scheme in which suppliers billed the government more than Sh6.2 billion for goods meant for the National Youth Service. These items included foodstuffs, uniforms, boots, cooking oil, pineapples, and diesel.
The report shows that despite the large amounts claimed, inspections found no evidence that the supplies ever reached NYS stores. Some of the deliveries, such as pineapples and corned beef, were recorded only in paperwork and could not be physically traced.
The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission has raised concern that the payments could have gone through had the matter not been challenged in court. Investigators who visited NYS facilities reportedly found empty stores and no records matching the massive claims made by the suppliers. This has raised alarm about how such large figures could pass internal checks without clear proof of delivery.
The Standard publication.
The Director of Public Prosecutions has noted that the case has weaknesses in some areas, especially in how evidence was handled earlier. Even so, the size of the alleged loss has made it difficult for the public to ignore. Many Kenyans see the scandal as another example of poor systems that allow public money to be exposed to abuse.
This episode has reopened painful memories of earlier NYS scandals, where billions of shillings were lost through fake supplies and inflated contracts. Those past cases were followed by promises of reform, tighter controls, and a clean break from the old ways. The current situation has left many people wondering whether those promises were ever fully implemented.
Critics argue that corruption at NYS does not happen in isolation. They point to long-standing networks that are said to stretch across powerful institutions, including State House, the Treasury, Parliament, and county governments. While these claims remain part of public debate, the perception that powerful individuals are protected has fueled anger, especially among young people.
On social media and in public discussions, many Kenyans link the scandal to daily struggles. Hospitals continue to face shortages of medicine, unemployment remains high, and many young people are stuck at home without opportunities.
Against this background, news of billions allegedly lost to fake supplies feels like a direct insult to ordinary citizens.
The Gen Z-led protests after the 2022 elections called for accountability and an end to corruption. Several years later, frustration is growing over what many see as slow or cosmetic change. The NYS III scandal has become a symbol of that disappointment.
How the Ruto administration handles this case will likely shape public trust in its commitment to fighting corruption going forward.
