The number of recruits joining the recently established Machakos Youth Empowerment plan, dubbed Machakos Youth Service (MYS) could hit 2,000 per year if things go as planned.

Governor Wavinya Ndeti now says her administration is exploring budgetary logistics of doubling up the number of recruits up from the current 1,000 in order to create more opportunities to the youth.

“We are going to invest more in the camp in order to make sure next time we can admit up to 2,000. Our goal is to change the lives of these young men and women some of whom had given up in life. Ours is to show them the right path by giving them the desired skills,” Wavinya said after visiting the trainees Wednesday evening ahead of Friday’s pass out ceremony.

According to the governor, the trainees are scheduled to transit to six centers of excellence in various parts of the county where they will enroll to study various vocational courses before joining community service.

“We shall then equip them to start their own businesses and even absorb a number of them to join the county inspectorate staff,” governor Wavinya said, dismissing a section of politicians who have been criticizing the program.

At the same time, the governor put on notice politicians who have been using the youth as agents of political violence, saying that MYS has come at the right time to offer young people better opportunities in life.