NAIROBI, Kenya- President William Ruto has announced plans to expand the national internship programme to accommodate 50,000 young Kenyans from January 1, 2027, with selected participants to receive a monthly stipend.
Ruto said the programme would target young people facing the challenge of securing work experience after leaving universities, technical and vocational education and training (TVET) institutions, and other colleges.
He announced the plan during the Mashujaa Day celebrations at Kipchoge Keino Stadium in Eldoret on Tuesday, October 20.
The President said placements would be made through a transparent, digital and merit-based system.
He also said the government would introduce incentives to encourage private employers to offer meaningful work experience.
The address did not state how much each intern would receive, how long placements would last, which institutions would manage recruitment or how many of the 50,000 positions would be in government and private companies.
Those details are expected to be important for young people assessing how to apply and what work the programme will offer.
Ruto said the initiative was intended to address a common barrier for jobseekers: employers often require experience, but graduates need a first opportunity to gain it.
The proposed placements would provide a route from education to practical work experience, which the government hopes could improve participants’ prospects of finding employment.
The announcement forms part of a wider employment agenda outlined by the President.
In the same speech, he said the government wants to expand digital employment opportunities towards two million over the next three years, international work opportunities towards one million, and jobs linked to housing and related investments towards two million.
Those are targets, not confirmed job placements.
The address did not set out how many of the planned internships would lead to permanent jobs or explain how the broader employment goals would be measured.
Ruto said the government would be prepared to explain how the targets would be financed and implemented.
Kenya already has public service internship programmes.
The Public Service Commission’s published internship information describes placements that provide work experience and include a stipend, subject to programme guidelines.
The Mashujaa Day announcement, however, did not specify whether the 50,000 places would be delivered through the PSC programme or a separate national arrangement.
Ruto said the necessary administrative and fiscal processes would follow.
