Editor's Review

President William Ruto has announced plans to introduce incentives for private companies that offer internship opportunities to young Kenyans.

President William Ruto has announced plans to introduce incentives for private companies that offer internship opportunities to young Kenyans.

Speaking on Thursday, November 5, Ruto said the government would expand the National Internship Programme from January 1, 2027, targeting 50,000 young Kenyans who would receive monthly stipends during their internship period.

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"As I announced on Mashujaa Day, beginning 1st January, 2027, we will expand the National Internship Programme to accommodate 50,000 young Kenyans, with monthly stipends," he said.

Ruto called on private sector players to support the initiative by opening internship opportunities for graduates, noting that businesses had an important role to play in preparing young people for the job market.

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"We will also introduce incentives for private employers who offer internships. I invite businesses to give our graduates practical experience, mentorship, and a fair chance to build their careers," he added.

File image of President William Ruto

This comes weeks after the Public Service Commission (PSC) announced 6,000 internship vacancies under the Affordable Housing Programme. 

In a notice on Tuesday, October 20, PSC said the internship programme which is run by the State Department for Housing and Urban Development, seeks to equip young professionals with practical skills and workplace experience.

"The programme seeks to equip young professionals with relevant skills, expose them to the real world of work environments, and strengthen their capacity to contribute to the implementation of the Affordable Housing Programme and the country’s broader socio-economic development agenda," read the notice in part. 

The vacancies include Architecture (475), Architectural Assistant (330), Civil Engineering (275), Construction Management (500), Electrical Engineering (250), Mechanical Engineering (350), Quantity Surveying (300), Quantity Surveying Assistant (300), Structural Engineering (300), Structural Assistant (225), and Health and Safety (300). 

Others are Land Surveying/Geo Spatial (230), Landscape Architecture (250), Realtors and Valuers (330), Social Development (115), Urban and Regional Planning (200), Data Science and/or Artificial Intelligence (50), and Gender and Development Studies (50). 

PSC also announced internship slots for Building Inspector (290), Inspector Civil Engineering (300), Inspector of Gas/Refrigeration and Inspector Plumbing and Drainage (175), Property Managers (250), Inspector Electricals (75), Communication and Branding (20), Environmental Practitioners (30), and Interior Design (30). 

To qualify for the internship, applicants are required to hold a bachelor's degree or diploma in the relevant professional field. 

The candidates are also required to have graduated in 2020 or later, be proficient in computer skills, and not have previously benefited from a similar internship programme.

Interested candidates are required to submit their applications through the Public Service Commission's job portal at www.publicservice.go.ke or www.psckjobs.go.ke.

The deadline for submitting applications is November 9, 2026.