Public Service Commission Chief Executive Officer Paul Famba/FILEThe Public Service Commission (PSC) has kicked off nationwide selection interviews for the 8th Cohort of the Public Service Internship Programme.
The exercise marks a crucial phase in the recruitment of 7,000 young graduates set to join government service in 2026.
The week-long interviews, which began on December 1 and will conclude on December 6, follow a highly competitive application process in which 35,659 candidates applied for the limited internship slots.
Of these, 13,117 applicants were shortlisted and invited to attend in-person or virtual interviews.
Successful candidates will be deployed to ministries, state departments, agencies, and public universities beginning January 2026 for a one-year paid internship programme designed to equip them with hands-on experience in public administration.
In a statement, PSC Chief Executive Officer Paul Famba said the recruitment campaign has been decentralised to ensure no region is left behind.
Interview teams have been deployed to 13 regional centres across Western, Nyanza, Coast, Rift Valley, North Eastern, Eastern, Central, and Nairobi.
“The grassroots approach to the recruitment of Cohort 8 interns attests to the commission's commitment to ensure diversity, equity, inclusivity, and the face of Kenya in the recruitment process,” Famba said.
He added that the programme reflects the commission’s pledge to provide structured internship opportunities that enhance employability, build technical capacity, and deepen young people’s understanding of the workings of public institutions in line with Article 232 of the Constitution, which outlines values and principles of public service.
Famba emphasised that the recruitment is being conducted under strict adherence to the law.
“The exercise is conducted in accordance with the highest standards of professionalism, fairness, merit, transparency, and equal opportunity as required by the Public Service Commission Act, 2017,” he said.
All shortlisted candidates have been notified via official SMS alerts, while detailed interview instructions have been posted on the PSC Jobs Portal. Applicants are required to present their original National ID, academic certificates, transcripts, and any other documents listed in their invitation.
To ensure accessibility, PSC has provided an option for telephone interviews for candidates in remote or hardship areas who may be unable to reach regional centres due to logistical challenges.
At the same time, the commission has warned applicants to be vigilant and avoid falling prey to fraudsters seeking money in exchange for promises of securing internship slots.
“The recruitment process is free of charge,” Famba reiterated, urging the public to report any suspected scams.
The Public Service Internship Programme, introduced to rejuvenate the public service and create pathways for youth employment, offers a structured 12-month placement for graduates who completed their degrees in 2018 or later.
Interns placed within ministries, departments, state agencies, and public universities receive a monthly stipend and are awarded certificates upon successful completion.
Since its inception, the programme has played a key role in enhancing the skills of thousands of graduates and strengthening service delivery across government institutions.
