Preparations for the 2027 internship programme started earlier than usual at AKI this year. With Kenyan interns now able to come to Germany as early as March for a nine-month internship, the application and selection process also had to begin much earlier.

From 21 to 30 September 2026, AKI representatives Tatiana Dettmer and Verena Jauß travelled to Kenya to select the new group of interns together with Bukura Agricultural College (BAC). More than 450 students applied for the programme – a strong sign of the continued interest in the opportunity to gain practical experience and discover German agriculture.

The first round of selection was carried out by Bukura Agricultural College. Applicants had to be in the final year of their three-year agricultural training programme. The college also looked at practical experience, confidence and communication skills, discipline, as well as whether applicants already had a passport and driving licence. Particular attention was also paid to achieving a balanced group in terms of fields of study, gender and regions of origin across Kenya.

Following this pre-selection, the AKI team conducted personal interviews with the candidates. These conversations provided an opportunity to get to know the applicants beyond their application and to learn more about their practical experience, personality and motivation. Openness, communication skills, practical experience and a genuine interest in the internship in Germany were particularly important.

After several intensive days of interviews and discussions, 90 young Kenyan agricultural students were selected to join the 2027 internship programme.

A big thank you goes to the entire team at Bukura Agricultural College for their excellent cooperation and for putting so much effort into preparing and organising the selection process. Their support was essential in making the interviews run smoothly.

We are now very much looking forward to welcoming the new group! The selected interns have already started their German language courses and are beginning to prepare for their time in Germany. We wish them every success during the coming months and look forward to welcoming them to their host farms in Germany in 2027.