Kenya President Ruto announces paid internship scheme for 50,000 youths

President William Ruto has announced a new paid internship programme designed to assist graduates in transitioning from educational institutions into the labour market. Scheduled to begin in January 2027, the initiative will initially recruit 50,000 participants from universities, colleges, and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions.

Interns will receive a monthly stipend ranging between Ksh20,000 and Ksh25,000. President Ruto indicated plans to scale the programme to 100,000 participants in the near term, with a long-term goal of reaching 200,000 youths within two to three years.

The announcement addresses significant employment challenges in Kenya. Data from the Commission for University Education shows that over one million graduates enter the labour market annually, while only approximately 101,000 formal jobs were created in 2025. Additionally, Kenya National Bureau of Statistics data highlights a youth unemployment rate of approximately 67 percent for those aged 15 to 34.