Kenyans seeking internship opportunities within the public service will now have access to improved remuneration and a standardized framework after the Cabinet endorsed the Internship and Volunteer Policy and Guidelines for the Public Service.
The policy framework was endorsed following a Cabinet meeting held on Tuesday at State House Nairobi chaired by President William Ruto in Nairobi.
According to the Cabinet, the endorsement of the policy will help address youth unemployment in the country and provide a standardized framework to streamline the recruitment, engagement, and management of interns and volunteers across government institutions.
Additionally, the policy will help address the existing inconsistencies in a majority of the internship programs within the public service.
This will help the government create a structured pathway for youth employment, especially those entering the job market.
''The policy addresses inconsistencies in existing fragmented programs, ensuring fair terms of engagement while creating structured pathways for youth employment. With thousands of graduates entering the job market annually, the framework aims to bridge the education-to-employment gap by equipping young professionals with hands-on skills essential for career progression,'' read part of the dispatch from the Cabinet.
Additionally, graduates who offer themselves for volunteer opportunities within the public service will be formally recognized, exiting from the traditional position where it was informal.
Graduates with qualifications in medicine and law have previously been disadvantaged while offering their services in major fields like law and medicine.
The recognition of the volunteers will expand its scope to cover graduates with professional certifications from certificate to degree levels.
''It also formalizes volunteerism in public service, recognizing its critical role in disaster response, national development, and community service. It covers degree, diploma, and professional certificate holders, ensuring equitable opportunities while meeting professional licensing requirements in fields such as medicine and law,'' the dispatch added.
Currently, thousands of graduates working in public service are not entitled to work benefits such as maternity, paternity, or sick leave.
This prompted Samburu West Member of Parliament Naisula Lesuda, to sponsor the Public Service Internship Bill, 2022, which is currently before the National Assembly and seeks to better the employment of graduates.
