President William Ruto has announced plans to expand the National Internship Programme by 50,000 slots from January 2027, targeting young Kenyans seeking work experience after completing their studies.
Ruto said the additional placements would be available to young people leaving universities, technical and vocational education and training (TVET) institutions and other colleges.
Speaking during Mashujaa Day celebrations in Eldoret on Tuesday, the President said the expansion was part of measures aimed at opening new pathways into employment for young Kenyans.
“From January 2027, we will expand the National Internship Program to accommodate another 50,000 young Kenyans out of college, out of our TVETs, out of our campuses, and out of our universities,” Ruto said.
He said those selected for the programme would receive a monthly stipend during their internship.
The President added that the expanded programme would use a transparent, digital and merit-based system to determine placements.
The system, he said, would be accompanied by incentives for private employers to provide young people with the required work experience.
“Placements will be conducted through a transparent, digital, and merit-based system, alongside incentives for private employers to offer meaningful work experience,” Ruto said.
The additional 50,000 positions are aimed at increasing opportunities for young people entering the labour market, where many graduates face challenges securing their first jobs.
The programme is intended to provide participants with practical exposure and workplace experience to help them transition from education into employment.
The President placed the internship expansion among four measures announced during the Mashujaa Day celebrations to respond to what he described as continued demands from Kenyans for greater economic opportunities.
The planned expansion comes after the Public Service Commission deployed 8,268 interns to ministries, departments and agencies in 2026, highlighting the continued demand for opportunities among young graduates.
The PSC has said its internship programme is intended to bridge the gap between education and employment by giving graduates practical workplace experience.
Since the programme began in 2019, more than 37,000 young people have benefited, while 3,134 former interns have subsequently secured permanent employment in national and county governments.
In its latest drive, the PSC also advertised 6,000 internship vacancies under the second cohort of the Affordable Housing Programme, targeting graduates and diploma holders in various professional fields.
The additional 50,000 placements announced by President William Ruto are expected to widen access to workplace experience for young people entering an increasingly competitive job market.
