Housing Department Onboards 7,000 Interns Nationwide

STATE DEPARTMENT FOR HOUSING, URBAN DEVELOPMENT ONBOARDS 7,000 INTERNS ACROSS VARIOUS BUILT ENVIRONMENT DISCIPLINES, SUPPORT DEPARTMENTS

By OUNAH R. KHALAYI

The State Department for Housing and Urban Development is at the tail end of the process of onboarding 7,000 interns across various built environment disciplines and various support Departments following an advertisement done through the Public Service Commission (PSC) in August this year.
Before the exercise of recruitment through interviews conducted across all the 47 counties, a one day Stakeholders forum was organized to strengthen collaboration between the State Department, Public Service Commission representatives, Private sector actors (Realtors) relevant professional bodies like the Architectural Association of Kenya, the Physical Registration Board of Planners, Board of Registration of Architects and Quantity Surveyors (BORAQs) and County Directors of Housing from all the 47 Counties was held at the Kenya School of Government, Nairobi campus on 24th September 2025.
The forum discussed the internship program framework, mentorship, and Supervision structure, deployment, identification of the resources, challenges, and solutions.
The forum shortlisted the interns on 1st to 5th September 2025 by the Public Service Commission and the State Department for Housing and Urban Development officials in a process that entailed data sorting and setting of parameters for selection.
The successful candidates were notified and invited for interviews, which started on 13th October to 17th October 2025 at their relevant counties.
Successful candidates are now waiting for deployment to their relevant stations, and the onboarding of the interns has created job opportunities for the youth who have completed their degree and diploma studies and are idling at home due to lack of jobs.
The Affordable Housing Programme has really created a great number of job opportunities to the Kenyan youths, and it is believed that more will be onboarded for the many projects taking place in all the 47 Counties across the Nation.
Speaking on the Programme, the Director of Human Resource Management Department in the State Department for Housing, Mr Douglas Njeru, said the successful onboarding of the 7,000 interns marks a new era in youth empowerment in a landmark initiative designed to provide young Kenyans with valuable work experience and skills development.
The Director hailed the programme as a significant step towards addressing unemployment and fostering talent in the country, which was meticulously planned and executed to pick Kenyans from diverse backgrounds integrated into various sectors, including government, private enterprises, and non-profit making organisations.
"This initiative not only provides them with practical experience but also opens doors to potential career opportunities," Mr. Njeru said, adding that the interns underwent an extensive orientation programme which equipped them with the necessary knowledge and tools to excel in their roles.
The Director added that a structured mentorship system was established to guide the interns throughout their tenure, ensuring that they receive support and guidance from experienced professionals.
Mr Njeru added that specialised workshops were conducted to enhance the interns with skills in areas such as communication, teamwork and problem solving, adding that this initiative is a testament to 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", the Director said.
He said as the interns embark on this new chapter, stakeholders are optimistic about the long-term benefits of the internship programme and it is expected that the initiative will not only enhance the employability of the interns but also contribute to the overall economic development of the country.
The Director further said that the successful onboarding of the 7,000 interns is a significant milestone which underscores the importance of collaborative efforts in addressing youth unemployment in the country adding that as these young professionals begin their journey, they carry with them the hopes and expectations of a bright future.