Loading article content...
Loading article content...
Kenya ,November 04, 2026 - President William Ruto has asked Kenya’s manufacturers to help create 150,000 paid internship places for young people. He made the request at the Kenya Industrialisation Summit in Nairobi on November 4, 2026.
The government had already said it would add 50,000 places to the National Internship Programme from January 2027. Ruto now wants industry to help make the total much bigger. He asked the Kenya Association of Manufacturers, or KAM, to expand the number to 150,000.
Under the plan, young people would work in factories, businesses and other workplaces. They would learn real skills while earning a monthly stipend. Earlier government announcements said the 50,000 new places would pay between Sh20,000 and Sh25,000 each month. [clarify: whether the same stipend applies to all 150,000 places]
Ruto said the government would help employers pay for the internships. He proposed that companies could subtract some of the interns’ salary costs from the taxes they pay. This is only a proposal for now. It would still need budget approval and clear rules before it can begin.
The President said Kenya needs young people with practical skills. He noted that technical colleges, known as TVETs, have increased intake to 1.2 million students. But he said schools and factories must work more closely together. Students need real experience, not only classroom lessons.
“Industry has a long list” of skills needs, Ruto told manufacturers. He asked them to open their factories and businesses to interns. He said young people want to see how things are made on the ground.
For many young Kenyans, the promise matters because jobs are hard to find. A student who finishes college may have a certificate but no work experience. An internship can help them learn how a workplace runs, meet employers and build confidence.
More from Kenya
Imagine a young woman in Nairobi who has studied mechanical work. She may know the theory, but she has never repaired a machine in a busy factory. A paid placement could give her that chance. It could also help a manufacturer find skilled workers for the future.
Ruto asked KAM chairperson Hitesh Mediratta to create a portal where companies can say what help they can offer. The portal would match students with firms that need their skills. KAM has not yet said when such a portal would start.
The idea faces big questions. It is not yet clear whether the 150,000 target means 150,000 in total or an extra 100,000 from private companies. It is also unclear how long each internship will last and who will check that interns are actually paid and placed in real jobs.
Experts say good safeguards will matter. Without them, some employers could use interns as cheap labour. Others might register placements that do not exist. Clear records, payment proof and monitoring would help prevent these problems.
Manufacturers also want a stable business environment. At the same summit, KAM’s chairperson asked government to reduce new taxes and give companies more notice before policy changes. He said factories can create more jobs when rules are predictable.
The next test will be whether the promise becomes real. Kenyans should watch for a budget or legal document, the launch of KAM’s portal, employer sign-ups and the first verified numbers of paid interns. If it works, the programme could give thousands of young people a first step into work. If it stalls, it may remain another big promise.