Updated 2026-11-14
The Public Service Internship Programme - PSIP - gives graduates an opportunity to gain technical and professional skills and public-service work experience. Applications are made only when the Public Service Commission advertises internship opportunities on its PSCIMS portal.
Do not pay anyone to apply for a public-service internship. The Public Service Commission says its services are free of charge.
This guide uses the PSC’s 2019 PSIP guidelines and an official PSCIMS internship advert dated 14 November 2026. The qualification, field of study, number of places and closing date can differ by advert, so read the vacancy notice before you submit.
The PSC’s 2019 PSIP guidelines say the programme is for unemployed Kenyan graduates from recognised training institutions. Under those guidelines, an applicant should have completed a degree within the previous three years and not have had work experience related to their area of study. The guidelines also cover degree or diploma graduates whose internship is required for professional registration.
| Requirement in the 2019 PSIP guidelines | What it means for an applicant |
|---|---|
| Citizenship and status | Be an unemployed Kenyan graduate from a recognised training institution. |
| Training and experience | Have completed a degree within the last three years and not have related work experience. |
| Professional internship | Degree or diploma graduates may qualify where internship is required for registration by their professional body. |
| Previous employment | Must not have retired or exited formal employment. |
| Previous internship benefit | Must not have benefited from a similar programme. |
The 2019 document is a guideline, not a substitute for a current advert. For example, an official PSCIMS internship advert dated 14 November 2026 for education ICT roles required graduation no earlier than 2022, named particular degree or diploma qualifications, required relevant ICT skills and required willingness to serve in any sub-county education office. It also said applicants must not have benefited from a similar programme.
Match your qualification to the exact advert. Do not assume that an all-fields internship or a diploma option applies to every PSIP vacancy.
The PSC’s official materials confirm that PSIP interns receive a stipend, but the pages reviewed do not publish a shilling amount. The 2019 guidelines say each intern is entitled to a monthly stipend and that rates are determined and communicated through PSC circulars. The 14 November 2026 PSCIMS advert likewise says the rate is determined by the Government.
Do not rely on social-media stipend figures. Check the specific official advert or ask the PSC for the rate applicable to that intake.
The 2019 guidelines also provide for subsistence allowance when an intern is out of station. They say interns are required to have valid personal medical cover for the internship period and to register with NSSF. Confirm current engagement conditions with the host institution because the guideline is from 2019.
Use the official PSCIMS jobs portal. First-time users must register with their ID or passport number, surname, current email address and a password. Then log in and select an advertised internship opportunity.
| Step | What to do |
|---|---|
| 1. Find an official advert | Open PSCIMS and use the internship opportunities section. Read the qualification, deployment, duration and closing date. |
| 2. Register or log in | Create an account if you are a first-time user, then log in with your ID or passport number and password. |
| 3. Complete your profile | Provide personal details, academic and professional qualifications, experience, professional-body membership, referees and other relevant information. |
| 4. Submit before closure | Submit a complete application before the advert closes. PSCIMS says incomplete applications are not considered. |
| 5. Save evidence | Print or save the Feedback Report or Application Summary from the portal. |
| 6. Correct before the deadline | You can amend or revisit an application before the advert closure date. |
The PSCIMS portal page reviewed shows an internship advert with an advert date and close date of 14 November 2026. If you are reading this after that date, do not treat it as open. Check the portal for a newer notice rather than applying through agents, email addresses or unofficial links.
For PSCIMS questions, the portal directs applicants to contactcentre@publicservice.go.ke and asks that you include your ID or passport number and full name.
The 2019 guidelines state that selected interns are deployed to ministries, departments and agencies, with placement aligned to their academic or professional qualification. The guidelines set a 12-month period, unless a professional regulator prescribes a different duration. The 14 November 2026 official advert also states a 12-month, non-renewable internship.
At engagement, the 2019 guidelines say interns are vetted and sign a security declaration. They are to provide a valid certificate of good conduct, biodata, copies of their national ID or passport and PIN, plus two coloured passport-size photographs. Treat these as engagement-stage requirements and follow the current advert or appointment instructions for the final document list.
Successful completion may lead to a certificate where the host department’s advert says one will be awarded. An internship is work experience, not a promise of a permanent public-service job.
Applications are only open when an official PSCIMS advert is live. The official internship advert reviewed was dated and closed on 14 November 2026, so check PSCIMS for a newer advert and its deadline.
The official sources reviewed do not state a cash amount. They say interns receive a monthly stipend at a rate determined by the Government or communicated by PSC circulars.
The 2019 guidelines include degree and diploma graduates where internship is required for registration by the relevant professional body. A particular vacancy can set different academic requirements, so use the qualification in that advert.
Yes. PSCIMS says applicants may amend or revisit an application before the advert closure date. Save the application summary after submitting.
No. The PSC says its services are free of charge. Do not send money to an agent, recruiter or anyone who promises placement.