Mandago proposes govt-funded internships in private sector
Uasin Gishu Senator Jackson Mandago has called for expansion of the national internship programme to include placements in private institutions, with the government footing the bill for stipends.
Speaking in the Senate on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, Mandago said that the current system, which limits most internship opportunities to public institutions, leaves many young people idle and underutilised.
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He argued that broadening the programme to the private sector would not only enhance skill transfer but also ensure that interns gain meaningful, hands-on experience in their respective professions.
“Interns should not only be placed in public institutions but also in the private sector, while being paid by the government. This ensures that we do not have interns idling away their time,” Mandago said.
He lamented that in some organisations, interns are reduced to performing menial tasks, such as serving tea or running errands, rather than applying the knowledge and skills they have acquired in school.
Mandago further proposed a significant scale-up of the national internship programme, from the current 3,000 slots to 300,000, arguing that Kenya must prioritise youth employment and skills development to address the growing unemployment crisis.
“We must have a conversation about increasing the number of interns from 3,000 to 300,000. Achieving this will require budget provisions, including cuts in some expenditures, even in infrastructure development, to ensure that young people are given the opportunity to acquire skills and make quality decisions.”
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Mandago also proposed that interns be allowed to serve for three years, after which they would transition to three-year government-supported contracts.
This, he noted, would give them stability and real work experience while gradually integrating them into the labour market.
My proposal is to give interns three years, and after three years, they will be given a three-year contract. This means the unions must also wake up to the reality that there are very minimal employment opportunities currently existing.”
