Public Service, Performance and Delivery Management Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria has announced a new partnership with the private sector set to benefit thousands of graduates looking for internship opportunities.

CS Kuria made the declaration after a meeting with various representatives of the Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA) led by Executive Director Gloria Ndekei.

“The meeting discussed the Internship Programme Partnership that we will roll out soon between the government and the private sector,” Kuria said in a statement on Tuesday, January 30.

According to the CS, thousands of applicants apply for government internships every year but only a handful are absorbed into the public service due to limited slots in state agencies.

Kuria revealed that last year alone the government received 57,000 applications but only 8,000 (14%) candidates were absorbed, leaving out a large percentage of other qualified young Kenyans.

“The government seeks to partner with the private sector to be able to absorb the remainder who are equally qualified,” Kuria revealed.

The programme targets all sectors across the country including manufacturing, banking and insurance, telecommunication, retail, academia and hospitality among others.

The new deal is aimed at solving the employment crisis in the country amid reports of rising cases of graduates failing to secure internship opportunities to hone their skills.

Ruto on employment crisis

In the recent past, President William Ruto has encouraged young professionals entering the job market to seek opportunities abroad even as he seeks to create employment locally through initiatives such as the housing programme.

In November last year, the Head of State promised to seek bilateral agreements with various Western countries that would see Kenya export more labour force abroad.

According to the President, the programme will benefit 3,000 to 5,000 Kenyans weekly.

“I have agreed with Bore (Labour CS Florence Bore) that we will sign bilateral labour agreements so that we export labour from Kenya. We want to export 3,000 to 5,000 Kenyans every week so that they can go and work abroad to sustain their livelihood and also bring us money,” President Ruto said during a church service in Bomet.

Some of the countries include Saudi Arabia, Germany, France and Israel.