Government interns should get Sh50, 000 as stipend - Cherargei

Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei speaking in the Senate/FILE

Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei has called for a significant increase in monthly stipends for interns working under the Public Service Commission (PSC).

Cherargei has proposed that they be paid a stipend of up to Sh50,000 per month—a sharp rise from the current Sh15,000.

While moving a Motion in the Senate on the welfare of PSC interns, Cherargei argued that the current stipend is too little to sustain young graduates, especially those stationed in cities such as 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,” said the senator.

“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.”

The senator noted that the high cost of living exposes interns to exploitation and indignity, saying that fair pay would not only ease their financial strain but also allow them to focus on gaining valuable work experience.

Cherargei, however, clarified that the proposed amount should not be uniform across the country. He suggested that interns working in major cities should earn up to Sh50,000, while those in smaller towns could receive around Sh30,000.

“If they are interns in cities, let us make it Sh50,000. For other small towns, we can increase to Sh30,000,” he said, emphasising the need for fairness based on cost of living.

He also urged young people to uphold discipline and commitment in their workplaces, saying the pay rise should not encourage laxity.

“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.

According to the senator, the 2025–2026 financial year provides for 7,000 internship positions across government ministries, departments, agencies, corporations, and public universities.

However, he expressed concern that the number remains too low compared to the 250,000 graduates produced annually by universities, colleges, and polytechnics.

He further proposed that the government consider making internship positions permanent and pensionable, saying it is wasteful to train young people for a year and then release them into unemployment.

“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,” said Cherargei.

The senator urged the government to emulate the National Youth Service (NYS), National Police Service, and Kenya Defence Forces, which prioritise youth employment and retention.