KPC Inuka Tech Fellowship: Kenya Pipeline Company PLC (KPC PLC) says 30 per cent of participants in the inaugural cohort of its Inuka Tech Fellowship have secured gainful employment, highlighting the potential of market-led skills development programmes in addressing youth unemployment.
The six-month technology fellowship, implemented through the KPC Foundation, combines technical training, practical simulations, mentorship, peer learning and industry exposure to prepare young professionals for employment in Kenya’s growing digital economy.
KPC hosted members of the inaugural cohort at its headquarters on September 22, 2026, where the young technology professionals toured the company’s operations and interacted with members of the KPC leadership team.
More Than 1,000 Applications for 30 Slots
The first Inuka Tech Fellowship cohort attracted more than 1,000 applications, with 30 young professionals eventually selected to participate in the programme.
According to Mumbi Ndung’u, Co-founder and Executive Director of Power Learn Project (PLP), one of the programme partners, several participants have already transitioned into employment.
“The programme boasts a 30 per cent absorption rate of trainees into gainful employment,” Ndung’u said.
The programme is structured around an apprenticeship-style model designed to bridge the gap between technical training and the practical requirements of employers.
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Training Aligned With Industry Demand
Rather than relying exclusively on conventional academic curricula, the fellowship uses a market-led approach in which industry requirements help shape the training curriculum.
Fellows develop practical capabilities in Python, machine learning, dashboard development, automation tools and data storytelling. They then apply these skills to real-world challenges across sectors, including energy, fintech, healthcare, logistics, retail and the public sector.
KPC Foundation Manager Rachel Gathoni said the programme was designed to address the mismatch between the skills employers require and those available among young jobseekers.
“Employers are saying, ‘We can’t find the right people,’ while graduates are saying, ‘There are no job opportunities.’ This is where we come in; we assess the gap and try to fill it through these programmes,” Gathoni said.
Fellows Gain Practical Industry Experience
The Inuka Tech Fellowship extends beyond classroom-based instruction by exposing participants to workplace environments, industry professionals and practical technology challenges.
As part of the programme, the 30 fellows in the PLP cohort participated in a hackathon at iHub in Lavington, Nairobi.
During the hackathon, participants worked in teams to develop digital solutions for a KPC Foundation technology challenge. The challenge focused on improving the management of programmes, beneficiary information, reporting and impact.
The programme also incorporates industry attachments, masterclasses, hackathons, practical training and global certification.
According to KPC Foundation, the approach is intended to give fellows experience that mirrors real workplace environments while helping them build professional networks.
Female Participation Reaches 50 Per Cent
The inaugural cohort also placed emphasis on gender inclusion, with women accounting for half of the 30 fellows selected.
The focus on female participation comes as technology and engineering sectors continue to seek greater representation of women across technical and professional roles.
Through the fellowship, participants receive opportunities to strengthen technical capabilities while gaining exposure to professionals and organisational leadership.
Technology Careers Targeted
Following completion of the six-month programme, fellows are positioned for potential roles in several technology and data-related fields.
These include Fibre Optic Technician, Operational Data Analyst, Business Intelligence Analyst, Energy Analytics Specialist, Supply Chain Analyst and Predictive Analytics Engineer.
The programme also provides participants with access to PLP’s Talent Hub ecosystem, creating a pathway through which trained professionals can connect with employment opportunities.
The combination of technical training, practical exposure and employer engagement is intended to improve the transition from education and training into employment.
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KPC Foundation Expands Youth Skills Development
The Inuka Tech Fellowship forms part of KPC PLC’s wider youth empowerment and skills development initiatives implemented through the KPC Foundation.
The Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Kenya Pipeline Company PLC. Established in 2016 and registered as a Charitable Trust in 2023, it manages the company’s Corporate Social Investment programmes.
KPC PLC commits at least one per cent of its profits to community programmes, according to the company.
The Foundation is seeking to expand the fellowship and strengthen partnerships with organisations in sectors including finance, agriculture and technology.
Addressing Kenya’s Skills-to-Employment Gap
Kenya’s youth employment challenge is closely linked not only to the availability of jobs but also to the alignment between the skills developed through education and training and those demanded by employers.
The Inuka Tech Fellowship is designed around this skills-to-employment connection by allowing industry requirements to influence training, followed by practical exposure and employment pathways.
For young professionals, the model provides an opportunity to combine technical knowledge with workplace experience. For employers, it creates a potential pool of candidates with exposure to practical technology applications.
The 30 per cent employment absorption reported from the inaugural cohort provides an early indication of the programme’s employment outcomes, while KPC Foundation’s planned expansion could extend the model to a larger number of young professionals.
By linking industry demand, technical training, practical experience and professional networks, the Inuka Tech Fellowship is positioning skills development as a potential bridge between Kenya’s young workforce and the evolving requirements of the digital economy.
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