President William Ruto has announced plans to create an additional 50,000 government internship slots starting January 2027, in a move aimed at expanding employment opportunities for young Kenyans.

The President made the announcement during the 2026 Mashujaa Day celebrations held in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County, where he outlined government initiatives targeting youth employment and skills development.

“Starting January 2027, we will expand the government internship programme by an additional 50,000 slots,” Ruto said.

He added that the programme is intended to help young people gain practical work experience, acquire essential workplace skills and prepare for future employment opportunities.

The planned expansion is expected to increase the number of graduates and other qualified young people accessing internship opportunities in government institutions, enabling them to apply their academic knowledge in professional settings.

The initiative comes amid continued calls for more employment opportunities for young Kenyans completing university, college and technical training courses.

The additional slots are expected to take effect in January 2027. However, details on recruitment, eligibility requirements and the application process are yet to be confirmed through official government announcements.

By Shephrah Nasambu