Kenya is seeking to expand paid work placements for young people as the government links industrial development with early-career job training.
President William Ruto asked manufacturers to help create 150,000 paid internships during the Kenya Industrialisation Summit in Nairobi on Wednesday. The proposed target would be three times the 50,000 additional places the government has already said it will add to the National Internship Programme beginning in January 2027.
The government’s earlier announcement said those 50,000 placements would pay between 20,000 and 25,000 Kenyan shillings per month. The plan described by Ruto would place young people in factories, businesses and other workplaces, where they would receive practical experience and a monthly stipend.
What the proposal includes
- A target of 150,000 paid internships involving manufacturers and other employers.
- 50,000 new places in the government’s National Internship Programme from January 2027.
- A proposed tax measure that would allow participating companies to subtract some intern salary costs from their tax payments.
Ruto said the government would help employers cover internship costs. His proposed tax treatment would require budget approval and detailed rules before it could take effect. The request places the Kenya Association of Manufacturers, or KAM, at the center of the effort to increase private-sector participation. Ruto asked KAM chairperson Hitesh Mediratta to work on expanding the number of opportunities.
The initiative is aimed at connecting classroom training with workplace skills. Ruto pointed to increased enrollment at technical and vocational education and training institutions, known as TVETs, which he said had reached 1.2 million students. He said technical colleges and factories need closer links so students can gain experience using the skills taught in their programs.
The proposed placements would cover factories, companies and other workplaces rather than a single occupation. The government’s description presents internships as a way for participants to build practical skills while earning money, while employers could use the placements to develop potential future workers.
The proposal also comes as Kenya’s government expands a separate public-sector internship effort. The Public Service Internship Programme has been described as a pathway for graduate interns to receive mentorship, professional skills training and practical industry experience. The Public Service Commission has directed state entities and parastatals to protect interns from mistreatment and exploitation as recruitment expands.
Ruto’s request to manufacturers is a proposal rather than an approved 150,000-placement program. The proposed tax support still requires budget approval and rules defining how employers could claim the deduction.
