PSC to include diploma and TVET graduates in government internships

The Public Service Commission (PSC) has kicked off a major review of its internship policy, and this time, diploma and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) graduates are finally getting a seat at the table.

For years, the Public Service Internship Program (PSIP) mainly served graduates holding a first bachelor’s degree from a recognized university, leaving thousands of technical trainees from institutions of higher learning out in the cold.

That’s about to change, according to PSC Chairperson Francis Meja, who broke the news during a courtesy visit to Cabinet Secretary for Cooperatives and MSMEs Development Wycliffe Oparanya on August 4.

“PSC has commenced the process of reviewing the PSIP Policy with a view to accommodating graduates from diploma programs and TVET,” Meja stated.

Meja’s announcement not only expands the pool of opportunities for this segment of graduates but also gives them a piece of the cake in state departments, ministries, and agencies.

This move means that close to 718,000 students who are enrolled in TVET institutions, a number that has grown steadily from around 250,000 to 367,000 in recent years, will see themselves benefiting from this move.

This comes as the country now boasts over 2,400 accredited TVET centres, ranging from national polytechnics to technical colleges and smaller vocational training centres.

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These institutions are quietly shaping the workforce of tomorrow by predominantly focusing on practical skills that provide students with hands-on experience, even as many of their graduates struggle to access the same opportunities as degree holders.

The latest Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) placement cycle painted a similar picture, with 28,246 diploma students placed at KMTC, 765 at Kenya Utalii College, and 500 at the Kenya School of Law.

At the moment, PSC has opened applications for PSIP Cohort 9, covering 2026/2027, with the application window closing on 17 August, offering over 3,000 candidates a 12-month, non-renewable internship placement across government departments.

Interns will receive a government-determined monthly stipend, historically around Ksh25,000. 

This comes days after President William Ruto issued an order to the PSC to increase the number of interns in the public service in a radical change of direction by the government in order to accommodate more graduates into government ministries.

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