NAIROBI, KENYA | 18 AUGUST 2026
The National Youth Service Alumni, through its Mentorship and Career Development Programme, organised and facilitated the E-Mobility Driver Trainee Empowerment Programme in collaboration with the National Youth Service (NYS), GreenWheels Africa and Uber. The initiative equipped 342 NYS servicemen and servicewomen with practical electric mobility skills while creating pathways to earning opportunities in Kenya’s growing electric mobility sector.
The programme reflects National Youth Service Alumni’s commitment to mentorship, career development and employment linkages, helping servicemen and servicewomen translate the skills, discipline and experience acquired during service into meaningful careers and sustainable livelihoods.
Through collaboration with industry stakeholders, the Alumni seeks to bridge the gap between skills development and employment by connecting NYS graduates with relevant training, professional networks and opportunities in emerging sectors. The e-mobility initiative is one such effort, aligning career development with the growing demand for skilled personnel in Kenya’s electric transport industry.
Training and Skills Development at NYS Camp MTB
The pioneer cohort completed an intensive two-week E-Mobility Driver Training Programme at NYS Camp MTB in Nairobi, acquiring practical, market-relevant competencies in electric mobility.
The training was designed to prepare participants for opportunities in the evolving transport and digital economy, where electric vehicles and technology-enabled mobility services are creating new pathways for employment and self-employment.
By organising and facilitating the programme under its Mentorship and Career Development Programme, National Youth Service Alumni supported the connection between skills acquisition and practical career opportunities. The initiative also demonstrates the value of partnerships that bring together youth-focused institutions and private-sector organisations to respond to changing labour-market needs.
Closing Ceremony and Graduation
The programme culminated in a graduation ceremony held at the National Youth Service Headquarters on 18 August 2026. The ceremony was presided over by the NYS Deputy Commandant General, Operations and Logistics, Nicholas J. Makokha, HSC, and attended by representatives of the programme partners, including Imran Manji, General Manager for Uber East Africa.
The closing ceremony marked the successful completion of the two-week training programme by the 342 servicemen and servicewomen. It also highlighted the importance of creating clear pathways from training to employment, particularly for young people preparing to transition from service into civilian professional and economic life.
Speaking during the ceremony, Imran Manji emphasised that young people require more than skills alone; they need practical opportunities to apply those skills and earn a living.
“Young people need more than skills; they need pathways to turn those skills into meaningful economic opportunities. By working with NYS and GreenWheels, we are helping graduates move from training into practical earning opportunities while also supporting the growth of electric mobility in Kenya,” Manji stated.
On his part, NYS Deputy Commandant General, Operations and Logistics, Nicholas J. Makokha, congratulated the graduates on successfully completing the programme. He encouraged them to apply the skills acquired, embrace available opportunities, build sustainable livelihoods and work towards financial independence as they transition from service.
The graduation was an important milestone for the trainees and the programme partners, demonstrating how coordinated efforts in mentorship, training and industry engagement can help graduates prepare for opportunities in emerging sectors.
From Training to Earning Opportunities
A key outcome of the initiative is the transition of the first cohort of 110 graduates into GreenWheels electric motorcycle driving opportunities under a lease-to-own model, with Uber supporting their onboarding onto its platform.
Recognising that initial compliance and onboarding costs can prevent young people from entering the transport sector, Uber and GreenWheels have co-funded 50 per cent of the initial onboarding costs for the inaugural cohort, sharing the investment equally.
This arrangement is intended to reduce the initial financial barrier for participating graduates and provide a structured pathway into income-generating activities. Under the lease-to-own model, participants have a route towards ownership through the agreed financing and repayment arrangements.
The transition into driving opportunities is expected to continue in phases. Approximately 100 additional NYS graduates are expected to transition into GreenWheels driving opportunities every three months through the end of 2026, subject to programme implementation arrangements.
For National Youth Service Alumni, connecting training with real opportunities is central to the objectives of its Mentorship and Career Development Programme. The initiative illustrates how career development can extend beyond guidance and training to include engagement with employers and pathways into economic activity.
Expanding Opportunities Across the Electric Mobility Sector
The collaboration between NYS and GreenWheels extends beyond electric motorcycle driving into a broader partnership focused on youth skills development, technical capacity building and employment across the electric mobility value chain.
Areas of collaboration include:
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Recruitment and placement of electric vehicle drivers.
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Technical staffing opportunities in electric vehicle assembly, servicing, maintenance and compliance.
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Industrial attachments and apprenticeship opportunities.
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Technical training and certification in electric mobility.
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Capacity building for trainers and technical personnel.
These areas of cooperation provide scope for NYS graduates with different technical backgrounds to explore opportunities beyond driving, including engineering support, vehicle maintenance, servicing, compliance and other roles associated with electric mobility.
Through its Mentorship and Career Development Programme, National Youth Service Alumni aims to strengthen awareness of these career pathways and promote engagement between NYS graduates and industry stakeholders seeking skilled and capable personnel.
As the electric mobility sector continues to develop in Kenya, such partnerships can help align the skills and experience of NYS graduates with the evolving needs of employers and service providers.
National Youth Service Alumni's Mentorship and Career Development Programme
The E-Mobility Driver Trainee Empowerment Programme forms part of National Youth Service Alumni’s wider efforts to support the professional development and economic integration of NYS servicemen and servicewomen.
The Alumni recognises that completing training or exiting service is only one stage of a person’s career journey. Graduates also need access to mentorship, career guidance, professional networks, industry exposure and employment linkages to help them navigate the transition into civilian life.
Through its Mentorship and Career Development Programme, the Alumni works to facilitate connections between NYS graduates, employers, corporate partners and emerging industries. Its approach is centred on helping graduates identify suitable career paths, understand industry requirements and access opportunities that can support long-term professional growth.
The e-mobility initiative demonstrates this approach by linking practical training with a structured transition into earning opportunities. It also highlights the importance of engaging private-sector partners in identifying skills requirements and developing opportunities that respond to real economic activity.
Beyond the immediate opportunities for electric motorcycle drivers, the wider collaboration presents potential pathways for graduates interested in technical services, engineering, maintenance, assembly and related occupations.
Strengthening Public-Private Partnerships for Youth Employment
The programme brings together complementary roles in training, industry engagement and employment opportunities. NYS provides the institutional training environment and foundation of service experience; GreenWheels provides a pathway into electric motorcycle operations; and Uber supports platform onboarding and initiatives aimed at reducing barriers to earning opportunities.
National Youth Service Alumni, through its Mentorship and Career Development Programme, organised and facilitated the initiative to help connect NYS graduates with these opportunities and strengthen the relationship between skills development and career progression.
For Uber, the initiative supports its broader commitment to expanding access to earning opportunities and enabling more young people to participate in Kenya’s digital economy. For GreenWheels, it supports the development of its electric motorcycle driver network while contributing to the growth of electric mobility.
The training of 342 servicemen and servicewomen, together with the transition of the first 110 graduates into driving opportunities, represents an important step towards connecting practical skills with economic participation.
Looking Ahead
National Youth Service Alumni remains committed to advancing mentorship, career development and employment linkages through engagement with institutions, employers and industry partners.
The Alumni will continue to pursue initiatives that help NYS graduates identify career opportunities, acquire relevant competencies and connect with employers in established and emerging sectors.
The E-Mobility Driver Trainee Empowerment Programme demonstrates the potential of coordinated partnerships to support the transition from service to sustainable livelihoods. It also reinforces the Alumni’s commitment to ensuring that the skills and experience acquired by NYS servicemen and servicewomen can translate into productive careers and greater economic independence.
National Youth Service Alumni