The government is planning to team up with private businesses to establish over 100,000 opportunities for internships. President William Ruto explained that the private sector will receive incentives to back this program.
He highlighted that practical training will help bridge the gaps in the job market by equipping young people with the necessary skills. “If private companies pay their interns 25,000 shillings per month, the government will reimburse them with 12,000 shillings. “He said.
The President shared these comments at the graduation ceremony of 3,500 youth who completed the 2jiajiri Programme at Moi International Sports Centre in Nairobi County. The KCB Foundation’s initiative aims to help youth develop small businesses by equipping them with hands-on skills. He noted that once the youth complete their training, the government has deliberately taken steps to create employment opportunities for them.
The Head of state also detailed that these opportunities are being created in areas such as affordable housing programs, county groupings and industrial zones, the digital economy, and special economic regions, among others.
President Ruto argued that the government has tackled funding challenges in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions to strengthen them.
“We have doubled the budget for TVETs so that we can expand opportunities for more people to acquire technical skills,” he emphasized.
He further mentioned that the government is working on establishing partnerships with development allies to broaden markets for Kenyan products abroad, pointing to the European Union and the United States.