ISK Statement on Launch of Affordable Housing Internship Programme

The Institution of Surveyors of Kenya (ISK), through its President Eric Nyadimo, joined other professional bodies in the built environment sector, including the Chair Valuers Registration Board George Ruara, Registrar for the Valuers Registration Board, Gregory Masika, Land Surveyors Board Member Christopher Kinyua, Secretary Land Surveyors Board Roy Kpekemoi as well as Contractors and Consultants within the Affordable Housing Programme for the official launch of the Affordable Housing Internship Programme, held on Tuesday, 15th July 2025 at State House, Nairobi.

The initiative, launched by H.E. President Dr. William Samoei Ruto, is part of the government’s broader strategy to address youth unemployment by leveraging opportunities within the Affordable Housing Programme (AHP). The event was also graced by Alice Wahome, Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Lands, Public Works, Housing & Urban Development as well as her 3 Principal Secretaries: Mr. Charles Hinga; Mr. Nixon Koirir; and Mr. Joel Anumonyang.

Speaking during the launch, President Ruto underlined the potential of the housing sector as a key driver of job creation and skills development in the country. He announced that the government will immediately recruit 4,000 fresh graduates from universities and TVET institutions for a one-year program. These graduates will be deployed across firms participating in the AHP, where they will gain hands-on training and mentorship.

“We are bringing on board and hiring another 4,000 graduates from our universities and TVETs to work under your firms, to ensure they acquire the knowledge and skills needed to become professionals,” said President Ruto.

The President further called on more firms with varied professional expertise to join the programme, with the aim of doubling the number of interns and scaling up project delivery through additional work shifts.

Key highlights at the event include:

• Expansion of participating consortia from 39 to between 60 and 70 firms.
• Employment of 4,000 interns across the AHP projects.
• Scaling up the housing sector workforce from 320,000 to 600,000.
• Professionalization of the informal (jua kali) sector, by integrating technical staff to enhance the quality of local craftsmanship.
• Increased focus on local content, use of local materials, and capacity building.
• Support for local manufacturing to meet growing demand for cement, steel, lifts, and other construction inputs.

President Ruto also acknowledged a request from professional bodies, to review the professional fees paid to consultants under the AHP. The President said he will soon meet with the professional bodies including ISK to re-evaluate the matter to ensure consultants are remunerated in line with statutory requirements.

ISK remains committed to supporting national development goals under the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), the medium-term plan of the Vision 2030, regional policy blue prints such as EAC Vision 2050, Africa We Want Agenda 2063 and the United Nations Agenda 2030 on sustainable development goals (SDGs). Considering the foregoing, ISK is committed to enhancing opportunities for young professionals within the land and built sector and the youth in Kenya at large. In this direction ISK is working on an internship portal that will be used to connect fresh graduates with the industry.

Eric Nyadimo, MISK, LS(K) President