Ruto Responds to Youth Unemployment With 50,000 New Paid Internship Placements

President William Ruto addressed mounting public frustration among young Kenyans regarding unemployment, taxation, the high cost of living, and the pace of administrative reforms on Tuesday. His address comes two years after youth-led protests forced his administration to withdraw the contentious Finance Bill 2024.

Addressing citizens during the 63rd Mashujaa Day celebrations at Kipchoge Keino Stadium in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County, President Ruto framed youth demonstrations as a vital mechanism for government accountability.

“Kenyans, particularly young people, have taken to the streets to express frustration over the cost of living, taxation, unemployment, and the pace of change,” President Ruto said.

“Their protests remind us that an electoral mandate does not silence the people between elections. Citizens retain the right to question their government, challenge its decisions, and demand better. We must listen, respond, and remain answerable for the commitments we make.”

Reflecting on his four years in office and projecting his administration’s economic vision ahead of the 2027 General Election, President Ruto outlined multi-pronged initiatives focusing on digital work, labor export programs, affordable housing developments, and practical career transitions.

He highlighted the persistent hurdle faced by entry-level job seekers navigating dynamic employment markets.

“Many young people cannot get employment without experience, yet they cannot get experience without employment,” President Ruto observed, defending his administration’s strategy to scale up workforce apprenticeships.

50,000 New Stipend-Backed Internships Announced

To break the entry-level barrier, President Ruto announced an expansion of the National Internship Programme beginning January 2027. The initiative will specifically target graduates emerging from universities, technical and vocational education and training institutions (TVETs), and the Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC).

“From January 2027, we will expand the National Internship Programme to accommodate another 50,000 young Kenyans out of college, out of our TVETs, out of our KMTC, and out of our universities, and they will receive a stipend every month,” the president stated.

The expanded placements will run on a transparent, digitally integrated, merit-based selection system. Additionally, the government plans to deploy targeted incentive structures to encourage private sector employers to onboard young talent for structured workplace training.

“This programme is intended to break that cycle and provide a pathway from education to productive work,” President Ruto added.

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