Kenyan President William Ruto has disclosed that his commercial farms take in between 10 and 15 university graduates as interns, providing them with stipends and practical training in agricultural operations. This revelation was made at the Industrialisation Summit and Changamka Festival held at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) in Nairobi. During the event, Ruto called on private sector employers across Kenya to open their doors to young graduates seeking work experience.
The President's agricultural portfolio spans thousands of acres across several counties, encompassing various agribusiness ventures. His flagship operation, Yegen Farm in Sugoi, Uasin Gishu County, focuses on poultry farming, with reports indicating that the farm rears around 200,000 chickens and produces approximately 150,000 eggs daily. This generates daily sales of about KSh 1.5 million. Yegen Farm also operates a commercial hatchery in partnership with India's IndBro.
Adjacent to Yegen Farm is Koilel Farm, a 430-acre property in Uasin Gishu where maize, wheat, and vegetables are cultivated. Part of the harvest is processed into chicken feed. Koilel Farm was previously investigated over maize sales to the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) but was later cleared. The President's other properties include Kisima Farm, a 2,500-acre beef and livestock enterprise in Taita Taveta County.
President Ruto emphasized that the interns on his farm are university graduates who gain hands-on exposure to commercial agriculture while earning stipends. He drew a distinction between his programme and unpaid arrangements that have drawn criticism elsewhere. Ruto proposed that internship programmes nationally should run for between six months and one year, giving graduates the chance to apply academic training in practical settings.
The President's personal initiative comes alongside a wider government push on youth employment. The Public Service Internship Programme is set to expand from 8,000 to 50,000 positions in January 2027, according to Public Service Commission Chairperson Francis Meja. The administration has also proposed a mandatory one-year internship scheme for graduates, with tax incentives earmarked for participating firms.
Ruto's farms offer a range of agricultural operations, including poultry, crop farming, and livestock. His farms are located in various counties, including Uasin Gishu, Taita Taveta, Narok, and Trans Mara. The President's agribusiness holdings have been detailed in a 2021 government asset briefing. The internship programme on his farms provides graduates with valuable work experience in the agricultural sector.
The government's efforts to address youth unemployment include the proposed mandatory internship scheme and the expansion of the Public Service Internship Programme. President Ruto's farm internship programme is an example of a private sector-led initiative aimed at providing young graduates with practical work experience. The programme has the potential to be replicated in other sectors, providing more opportunities for Kenyan graduates.
Key points
- President Ruto's farms offer internships to 10-15 university graduates, providing stipends and practical training in agriculture.
- The President's agricultural portfolio spans thousands of acres across several counties, encompassing various agribusiness ventures.
- The government's efforts to address youth unemployment include the proposed mandatory internship scheme and the expansion of the Public Service Internship Programme.
