KITUI, Kenya — President William Ruto has announced plans to recruit 50,000 young Kenyans into a paid internship programme from January 2027, with successful applicants expected to receive monthly stipends of between KSh20,000 and KSh25,000.
The programme will target young people completing their studies at universities, colleges and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions, with the aim of helping them gain practical workplace experience as they transition into employment.
Speaking during a church service at AIC Kasina in Mwingi town on Sunday, October 25, Ruto said the government intended to expand the initiative progressively to reach more young people.
“We have said that from January, we are going to have 50,000 young people as interns who will be paid KSh20,000 to 25,000 per month so they can join the workplace in a graduated manner when they complete college, TVET, and university,” Ruto said.
The President said the programme could grow from 50,000 placements to 100,000 and eventually 200,000 over the next two to three years.
“This is a programme we want to expand from 50,000 to 100,000 to 200,000 in two to three years so that we can create a better transition for our young people when they come out of college,” he added.
The proposed expansion is intended to give graduates an opportunity to develop professional skills and gain experience before competing for permanent positions in the job market.
However, the announcement did not provide detailed information on the application process, eligibility criteria, placement duration or the institutions that will oversee recruitment.
Ruto’s internship plan amid youth unemployment
The announcement comes as Kenya continues to grapple with the challenge of creating enough formal employment opportunities for young people entering the labour market.
Data reported by Business Daily in April 2026 showed that Kenya created approximately 824,100 jobs in 2025, but only about 101,000 were in the formal sector. Most new positions were in the informal economy, where workers may face less predictable earnings and weaker employment protections.
For graduates, limited access to entry-level positions and employers’ demand for previous work experience can make the transition from education to employment difficult.
Ruto said the proposed internship programme would help bridge that gap by allowing young people to enter workplaces gradually while earning a monthly stipend.
The President had also announced plans to expand the National Internship Programme by an additional 50,000 places during the Mashujaa Day celebrations in Eldoret on October 20.
The government has said the expansion would involve a transparent, digital and merit-based placement system, alongside incentives intended to encourage private employers to offer meaningful work experience.
Internships, however, are not the same as permanent jobs. The programme’s impact will depend partly on how placements are allocated, the quality of workplace training and whether participants can use the experience to secure longer-term employment.
Ruto announces another phase of NYOTA programme
During the same church service, Ruto also announced plans for a new phase of the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) programme, targeting at least 200,000 young people interested in starting businesses.
The government has previously used NYOTA to support young entrepreneurs with start-up capital, including a KSh50,000 business grant and an additional KSh50,000 in business support, subject to the programme’s applicable requirements.
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The proposed new phase is intended to reach more young people seeking to establish businesses rather than enter formal employment.
Ruto did not provide further details on the new phase’s application process, implementation timetable or funding arrangements.
The internship proposal and the planned NYOTA expansion represent two different approaches to youth economic participation: providing workplace experience for graduates seeking employment and supporting young people who want to pursue entrepreneurship.
Further details from the government will be needed to establish how applicants will qualify, how the placements and business support will be administered, and when recruitment for the proposed initiatives will begin.
