President William Ruto has proposed expanding Kenya’s national apprenticeship programme to accommodate an additional 50,000 young people from January 1, 2027, with participants set to receive stipends.
The President said the programme would help young Kenyans gain practical workplace experience and improve their chances of securing meaningful employment.
Addressing the nation during Mashujaa Day celebrations in Eldoret, Ruto said the initiative would target one of the major challenges facing job seekers: employers demanding experience from applicants who have not yet had an opportunity to work.
“Many young people cannot get jobs without experience, yet they cannot gain that experience without employment,” Ruto said.
He explained that recruitment would be conducted through an open digital system, with the programme also providing private-sector employers an opportunity to expose young people to practical work environments.
The apprenticeship expansion is part of four proposals announced by the President to ease economic pressure and widen opportunities for Kenyans.
Ruto also outlined broader employment targets, saying the government aims to increase digital work opportunities to two million, international employment opportunities to one million, and jobs associated with housing and related investments to two million over the next three years.
