President William Ruto has announced plans to expand the National Internship Programme from January 2027, targeting an additional 50,000 young people graduating from universities, Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions and the Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC).
Speaking during Mashujaa Day celebrations in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County, on Tuesday, Ruto said the initiative would provide graduates with practical workplace experience to improve their employability and ease their transition from education to the job market.
The President said beneficiaries would receive monthly stipends, with internship placements allocated through a transparent, digital and merit-based system.
He added that the government would introduce incentives to encourage private-sector employers to offer meaningful work experience to young people.
Ruto said the programme was intended to address the challenge facing many graduates who struggle to secure jobs because they lack the work experience employers require.
“Too many young people cannot secure employment without experience, and yet they cannot gain experience without employment,” he said.
The President further revealed that he had directed the National Treasury to present the proposals to Parliament the following week for consideration.
If approved and implemented, the measures are expected to expand internship opportunities for young people while forming part of broader government proposals that could affect personal income tax obligations, land transaction costs and mobile phone prices.
The planned expansion builds on the Public Service Internship Programme (PSIP), which was introduced by the Public Service Commission (PSC) in the 2019/2020 financial year to help graduates gain practical skills and transition into the workplace.
The programme offers participants professional mentorship, hands-on experience and monthly stipends to strengthen their skills and improve their prospects in the labour market.
In June 2026, the PSC inducted 8,286 interns under Cohort VIII of the programme.
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