In a strategic move to boost youth employment and global competitiveness, more than 390 students from the Kenya School of Agriculture are set to embark on a six-month paid internship in the United Kingdom. The initiative is part of the Kenyan government’s “Kazi Majuu” program aimed at creating international job opportunities for Kenyan youth.
The students, drawn from the Nyeri and Thika campuses of the institution, will receive hands-on training across England, Wales, and Scotland. They will acquire modern farming techniques while earning income during their stay.
Speaking at the Nyeri campus, Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture, Mutahi Kagwe, described the internship program as a practical response to the rising challenge of youth unemployment. “We want to infuse agriculture into our youth. These students will serve as ambassadors of Kenya abroad. Contrary to what critics say, we are indeed creating jobs — both locally and internationally,” Kagwe emphasized.
Nyeri Senator Wahome Wamatinga, himself a beneficiary of a similar initiative years ago, commended the program as a key strategy in tackling joblessness. “It is short-sighted to only train for the local market. In today’s interconnected world, labor mobility is a valid solution to unemployment,” he noted.
Echoing the sentiment, Nyeri Town MP Duncan Maina hailed the initiative and dismissed opposition criticisms. “Even my own son is employed in Germany thanks to similar efforts. We must be honest — most critics of this initiative also have relatives working abroad,” he said.
The internship is designed to expose Kenyan agriculture students to international best practices, positioning them to bring innovative techniques back home or excel in the global job market.
The move signals the Kenya Kwanza administration’s commitment to international skills exchange and youth empowerment through education-driven labor export programs.
EduTimes Africa, a product of Education Times Africa, is a magazine publication that aims to lend its support to close the yawning gap in Africa's educational development.