President Ruto has deployed an army of 5,500 fresh graduates to construction sites across Kenya, declaring that the country will remain a "construction hub" for the next 30 years.

Commissioning the cohort at State House, the President framed the Affordable Housing Programme not just as a shelter project, but as a massive skills-transfer engine. These are not casual laborers; they are architects, engineers, and surveyors who will now cut their teeth on real projects rather than languishing in the unemployment queue.

From Theory to Concrete

"We are allowing you to actualize your dreams," Ruto told the interns. The strategy is two-pronged: solve the housing crisis and solve the skills gap simultaneously. By embedding these graduates in active sites, the government hopes to create a pipeline of seasoned professionals ready to export their expertise across the region.

• The Promise: Ruto asserts that the construction boom is a long-term economic pillar, not a five-year stint. "Prepare yourselves for the next 25 to 30 years," he advised.
• The Stipend: Funded jointly by the government and consultants, the program offers a lifeline to graduates who often face the "no experience, no job" paradox.

A Blueprint for Employment?

If successful, this internship model could be the silver bullet for youth unemployment. It moves beyond the "kazi mtaani" approach to meaningful, career-building engagement. The challenge now is execution: ensuring these interns are not just tea-boys on site, but active participants in building the Kenya of tomorrow. The foundation has been laid; now they must build.