The Public Service Commission has finally decided to shake things up with their internship programme. In what could be welcome news for thousands of young Kenyans holding diplomas and TVET qualifications, the commission is now reviewing the Public Service Internship Programme policy to include graduates from these institutions, not just university degree holders.
The announcement came on Tuesday during a meeting between commission leadership and the Cabinet Secretary for Cooperatives and MSMEs Development.
Commission Chairperson Francis Meja disclosed the plans while calling on the Cabinet Secretary, Hon. Wycliffe Oparanya, at the NSSF Building. This move signals a significant shift in how Kenya approaches graduate employment in the public service.
For many years, diploma and TVET graduates have watched from the sidelines as university graduates dominated the internship spaces in government.
Many of them possess practical skills and technical expertise that is desperately needed across various government departments. This policy review aims to change that narrative and give these graduates a fair shot at gaining public service experience.
But it is not just about opening the doors. The revamped programme is expected to be much more comprehensive. According to Meja, the new internship framework will bring private sector players into the conversation. This means interns will not only work within government but will also gain exposure to how businesses operate.
The programme will also include entrepreneurship training, something that could equip young people with skills to start their own ventures after completing their internships.
Perhaps most importantly, the new initiative will introduce a savings scheme for interns. This is a practical consideration that many young people have been calling for. Internships traditionally offer little financial reward, making it tough for interns from humble backgrounds to sustain themselves during the programme. A savings scheme could help them build some financial cushion.
However, Oparanya has also pushed for something equally important: standardisation. He called for a consolidated internship programme with a robust tracking system that monitors each intern's progress and individual performance.
His concern is valid. Right now, different government departments handle interns differently, which creates inconsistency and inequality. Some interns get better experiences and mentoring than others depending on where they are placed.
Oparanya's point about centralisation is particularly strong. As he put it during the meeting, all interns should receive the same benefits regardless of which government ministry or department they are assigned to. This would ensure fairness and quality control across the entire internship ecosystem in government.
The timing of this review could not be better. Kenya has a growing challenge with youth unemployment, particularly among vocational graduates who often struggle to find opportunities despite being highly skilled.
By making space for diploma and TVET graduates in the internship programme, the government is acknowledging that not every useful skill comes from a university classroom.
What remains to be seen is how quickly these changes will be implemented and how effectively the programme will prepare young Kenyans for the job market.
If done right, this could become a game changer for thousands of graduates currently stuck in the waiting game. For now, the conversation is moving in the right direction.
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