The government has announced plans to hire more than 3,200 interns starting August, according to a new policy.
Under the proposal, each intern will be paid a monthly stipend of Sh25,000 to enable them cover basic expenses such as transport and lunch.
According to reports, PSC is currently preparing the policy document on the functions of the interns and expects to conclude the final recruitment process in mid-September.
“We start the recruitment in August and qualified individuals will be required to apply directly to the commission,” said PSC Chairman Stephen Kirogo.
PSC chairman Stephen Kirogo. Courtesy
This opens the door for thousands of fresh graduates to gain experience and earn upkeep in a country where the unemployment rate stands at 40 per cent.
Fresh graduates are generally viewed as lacking specialised market skills and experience to perform tasks.
Employers in Kenya complain of poor quality graduates who do not meet the needs of the job market, prompting companies to spend millions of shillings on on-the-job training.
The chairperson Stephen Kirogo @PSCKenya psc indicated that the commission will work toward ensuring this program provide the professional skills to graduates as opposed to the uneccesary duties that interns are subjected to in the offices
— PSC (@PSCKenya) July 25, 2019
This comes after Nakuru County Assembly adopted a policy that will see 275 graduate interns employed annually.
Each ward will recruit five graduate interns annually. The interns will be paid a monthly salary of between Sh15,000 and Sh25,000.
The interns on the Nakuru County government payroll will be entitled to subsistence allowance when working out of their stations, 15 days annual leave and 30 days paid sick leave.
The interns would have an effect of easing the pain bloated wage bill in replacing some of retiring workers.
Its good but when are you gonna say something on technical trainers interview please? Thanks
— Francis Ndege (@FrancisNdege1) July 25, 2019
This comes just days after plans to pay jobless youths a monthly stipend of Ksh 3000 was met with mixed reactions.
The amendment which is being sponsored by MPs-Caleb Amisi (Saboti) and Didmus Barasa (Kimilili) also seeks to award both graduates and diploma holders absorbed as interns a monthly stipend of Kshs. 5000.
3000/- by 30 days means 100/- per day to help us with fare, food, rent ???
— Hoop (@shili120) July 24, 2019
Proposal to pay interns, jobless youth https://t.co/SA59FaiSP5
— Daily Nation (@dailynation) July 24, 2019
I support this move and I hope the funds will get to the jobless youths and not people’s pockets!!
— Kkhaluhi (@BilhaKate) July 24, 2019