The State Department for Housing and Urban Development is concluding the onboarding of 7,000 interns across the country, marking one of the largest public sector internship initiatives in recent years.
In a statement on Monday, October 27, 2025, the Department said it was at the tail end of the process.
The program, executed in partnership with the Public Service Commission (PSC), targets graduates in built environment disciplines and support departments, aligning with the government’s Affordable Housing Program (AHP) and broader urban development goals.
Intern Onboarding Program
Speaking on the program, Douglas Njeru, Director of Human Resource Management at the State Department, described the onboarding of 7,000 interns as a landmark initiative.
“This initiative not only provides them with practical experience but also opens doors to potential career opportunities.”
The recruitment process began in August 2025 with a national advertisement by PSC, inviting applications from recent graduates across over 40 professional fields.
Applicants were required to hold a diploma or degree in a relevant discipline and to have graduated no earlier than 2018.
The application window closed on August 14, 2025.
Shortlisting was conducted between September 1 and 5, 2025, through a joint effort by PSC and the State Department.
The process involved data sorting and the establishment of selection parameters to ensure transparency and merit-based recruitment.
Interviews were held across all 47 counties, ensuring regional representation and equity.
Njeru emphasized that the internship program reflects the government’s commitment to youth empowerment and job creation.
“By providing young Kenyans with the opportunity to gain practical experience, the programme aims to reduce unemployment rates and equip the youth with skills needed to thrive in the job market.”
Stakeholders Meeting
Ahead of the recruitment, a one-day stakeholders’ forum was convened on September 24, 2025, at the Kenya School of Government, Nairobi campus.
The forum brought together PSC officials, private-sector actors, including realtors, and professional bodies such as the Architectural Association of Kenya, the Physical Planners Registration Board, the Board of Registration of Architects and Quantity Surveyors (BORAQs), and County Directors of Housing.
The forum focused on finalizing the internship framework, mentorship and supervision structures, deployment logistics, resource identification, and addressing anticipated challenges.
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Participants emphasized the importance of structured mentorship to ensure interns gain practical experience and contribute meaningfully to ongoing projects.
Intern Allocation
Interns will be deployed across various disciplines, with notable allocations including 300 positions in architecture, 250 in construction management, 200 each in civil, electrical, and mechanical engineering, and 150 in urban and regional planning.
Other technical fields include structural engineering, quantity surveying, landscape architecture, interior design, and land surveying.
Support departments are also well represented, including legal services (60 interns), ICT and data science (40 each), communication and branding (150), digital marketing (50), environmental practitioners (150), health and safety (180), and social development (165).
Additional roles cover economics, actuarial science, financial analysis, human resource management, gender studies, and supply chain management.
Inspector roles have also been created for building, civil, electrical, plumbing, and gas/refrigeration disciplines, reflecting the department’s commitment to quality assurance in construction and housing projects.
The internship will run for 12 months and is non-renewable. Interns will receive a monthly stipend and a certificate upon successful completion.
The program is designed to provide hands-on experience, enhance employability, and build a pipeline of skilled professionals for Kenya’s built environment sector.
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This initiative supports the government’s goal of delivering 200,000 affordable housing units annually and complements other urban development programs.
By integrating young professionals into public service, the State Department aims to accelerate project delivery, improve service quality, and foster innovation.
As the interns begin their assignments, they are expected to play a critical role in shaping the country’s urban landscape and contributing to national development.
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When are they expected to be deployed
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