Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei now wants the PSC to increase the monthly stipends paid to interns, arguing that what they are currently being paid is too little to sustain them in today’s tough economy.
Cherargei proposed that the government increases internship pay from Ksh15,000 to Ksh50,000, arguing that many young graduates struggle to make ends meet due to the high cost of living, particularly in cities like Nairobi.
“I meet parents who tell me they have their children doing internships in Nairobi but still have to provide them with transport and rent because they earn very little,” he said. “How do you pay a young person Sh15,000 in this day and era? Let us give them at least Sh50,000 so they can afford a decent house in Umoja or Rongai.”
Speaking while presenting a Motion in the Senate on the welfare of PSC interns, Cherargei stated that the current stipend can barely sustain the interns’ basic needs and therefore exposes them to financial vulnerability. He noted that a decent wage can ensure that interns do not compromise dignity, are not exploited, and instead focus on valuable work experience only.
However, the senator clarified that the proposed pay should vary based on location. “If they are interns in cities, let us make it Sh50,000. For other small towns, we can increase to Sh30,000,” he explained, stressing the importance of fairness in line with the cost of living.
Cherargei also urged interns to remain disciplined and dedicated at work, warning that the proposed pay rise should not be an excuse for complacency.
“I am not saying the money should be increased so that young people can party throughout. If we pay them well, they will be able to learn more and live decently,” he added.
He indicated that the 2025–2026 financial year has set aside 7,000 slots for internship within government ministries, departments and agencies, state corporations and public universities. But he lamented that this number falls far short of the over 250,000 graduates produced every year by universities, colleges and polytechnics.
Cherargei added that the government should, where possible, convert internship posts to permanent and pensionable employment, saying it does not make sense to train the youth for one year only to release them back into the job market.
“We need to ensure dignity for interns. I do not see why a Kenyan youth should serve as an intern for 12 months and then be released to the streets. You lose the experience and resources invested in that young person,” he stated.
He concluded by calling on the government to emulate the National Youth Service (NYS), National Police Service, and Kenya Defence Forces (KDF), which prioritize youth recruitment, training, and retention as a strategy to curb unemployment.
