Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei has urged the government to increase the monthly stipend for interns under the Public Service Commission (PSC) from the current Sh15,000 to Sh50,000, citing the high cost of living and the need to preserve the dignity of young graduates.
Speaking while moving a Motion in the Senate on the welfare of PSC interns, Cherargei said the current allowance is too little to sustain interns, especially those stationed in cities such as Nairobi.
“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,” he said.
The senator proposed that the amount vary based on location, suggesting Sh50,000 for interns in major cities and Sh30,000 for those in smaller towns.
He further called for reforms to make internship positions permanent and pensionable, arguing that releasing trained interns after a year wastes both talent and government resources.
Cherargei also encouraged discipline among interns, noting that fair pay should motivate commitment and productivity.
He revealed that the 2025–2026 financial year provides for 7,000 internship slots, a figure he said remains too low compared to the 250,000 graduates entering the job market annually.
