NAIROBI, Kenya – Thousands of Kenyan graduates in engineering, construction, architecture, urban planning and other professional fields have a fresh opportunity to gain workplace experience after the Public Service Commission (PSC) announced 6,000 internship vacancies under the Affordable Housing Programme.
The recruitment, announced on Tuesday, October 20, targets young professionals who will support the implementation of housing projects while gaining practical skills through a 12-month placement.
The positions fall under the second cohort of the programme, administered by the State Department for Housing and Urban Development. Applications close on November 9, 2026, giving interested candidates less than three weeks to submit their applications.
The vacancies cover both degree-level professions and diploma-level technical roles, including engineering, construction supervision, property management, building inspection and plumbing.
The PSC says the programme is intended to equip young professionals with relevant skills, expose them to real working environments and strengthen their contribution to the Affordable Housing Programme and the country’s broader socio-economic development agenda.
Which Professions Have The Most Internship Slots?
Construction management has 500 vacancies, while architecture has 475 positions, making the two fields among the largest allocations in the recruitment.
Mechanical engineering has 350 positions, while architectural assistants and realtors and valuers have 330 slots each.
Other opportunities include:
- Civil Engineering: 275 positions
- Electrical Engineering: 250 positions
- Quantity Surveying: 300 positions
- Structural Engineering: 300 positions
- Health And Safety: 300 positions
- Land Surveying/Geo-Spatial: 230 positions
- Landscape Architecture: 250 positions
- Urban And Regional Planning: 200 positions
- Social Development: 115 positions
- Data Science And Artificial Intelligence: 50 positions
- Gender And Development Studies: 50 positions
The recruitment also includes building inspectors, civil engineering inspectors, electrical inspectors, property managers, gas and refrigeration inspectors, plumbing and drainage inspectors, environmental practitioners, communication and branding professionals, and interior designers.
The range of positions provides opportunities beyond traditional construction professions, extending to environmental management, technology, social development and property-related services.
Who Qualifies For The PSC Internship?
Applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree or diploma in the relevant professional field from a recognised institution.
They must also have graduated in 2020 or later, demonstrate proficiency in computer skills and have no previous participation in a similar internship programme.
Successful candidates will serve for 12 months under a non-renewable arrangement. Their duties will include responsibilities assigned by supervisors, documenting skills acquired at project sites and participating in relevant mentorship activities.
The State Department for Housing and Urban Development will pay successful interns a monthly stipend at a rate determined by the government. The notice does not specify the exact amount.
Interns who complete the programme successfully will receive certificates from the State Department.
How To Apply For The 6,000 Positions
Interested candidates should submit their applications online through either of the following official Public Service Commission portals:
Applicants should identify the position corresponding to their qualifications and ensure they meet the stated academic and other requirements before submitting their applications.
The deadline is November 9, 2026.
Ruto Had Earlier Negotiated Stipends For Housing Interns
The latest recruitment follows an earlier push by President William Ruto to improve financial support for interns attached to the Affordable Housing Programme.
During the launch of the programme at State House, Nairobi, on January 23, the President said the government would pay interns a monthly stipend and urged consulting firms involved in housing projects to consider providing additional upkeep support.
Ruto acknowledged that interns needed money for transport, rent and other living expenses while learning and helping supervise construction sites.
He also announced that the National Treasury had approved an increase in the payment rate for consulting firms from two per cent to three per cent, citing the contribution and sacrifices made by the firms.
The latest PSC notice, however, states only that the government will determine the interns’ monthly stipend rate; it does not confirm whether consulting firms will provide additional payments to those recruited under the new cohort.
With the November 9 deadline approaching, eligible graduates seeking practical experience in housing and urban development are expected to review the advertised opportunities and submit their applications through the official recruitment channels.
