By Kepher Otieno - Reporter
Kenya, 6 December 2025 - The passage of the Public Service Internship Bill has stirred visible relief and optimism among students preparing to enter Kenya’s competitive job market, with many describing the long-awaited protections as a lifeline after years of financial strain during industrial attachments.
The law, which guarantees monthly stipends, insurance cover, leave benefits and formalised mentorship for interns in national and county institutions, is now being celebrated across universities and colleges by those who feel their struggles have finally been acknowledged.
For students of public administration, the change is nothing short of transformational. Joseph Ouma, a third-year student, says the law answers years of grievances that young people voiced but felt were ignored.
“We have been crying about surviving on empty stomachs just to finish internship,” he explains.
“Most of us had to fast or skip meals because we couldn’t afford food and transport. For MPs to finally act shows they listened to our pain.
His classmate, Ken Otieno, echoes the sentiment, calling the legislation “a breakthrough that gives dignity to young professionals.”
He adds that many of his peers had previously opted out of internships altogether because the cost of daily travel was higher than the benefit of the attachment.
“Now we can go to work knowing we’re not burdening our parents or sinking ourselves into debt,” he says.
The excitement is equally strong in nursing programmes, where clinical attachments often demand long hours in distant hospitals.
Winny Akello, a nursing student who recently completed her practicum, describes the bill as “a blessing for every trainee nurse who has walked miles or borrowed money just to report to duty.”
She recounts days she spent rotating between wards without even transport fare home. “This law will help us show up to serve without the constant worry of how we will survive.”
Her colleague, Alice Achieng, notes that nursing attachments are emotionally and physically taxing, yet students have historically received no compensation.
“We work full shifts and sometimes night duties. Having a stipend and insurance is more than fair — it’s justice,” she says, thanking legislators for responding “faster than anyone expected.”
Environmental management students, often deployed to field stations and county environment offices, also feel rescued by the new framework.
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Victor Oduor says the financial burden of fieldwork pushed many students to abandon attachments or delay graduation.
“You’d spend more on boots, notebooks and transport than you could manage,” he recalls.
“Now, with a guaranteed stipend, we can focus on learning instead of worrying about where fare will come from.”
Jasper Anwani adds that working in remote sites made attachments even tougher for his classmates, many of whom had to fund weekly travel out of pocket.
“MPs have finally understood that internships are not free labour — they’re part of our training,” he says.
Walter Owuor, also in the programme, calls the law “a timely rescue,” saying it restores motivation at a time when youth unemployment has dampened morale. “We feel seen, and we feel valued,” he remarks.
Beyond individual relief, students recognise the broader significance of the law: a shift away from exploitative, informal attachments and toward a structured system that offers dignity and fairness.
Many say the new legal protections will energise young graduates entering public service, improving productivity and professionalism.
They also believe standardised recruitment, mentorship and evaluation mechanisms will prevent favouritism and give all qualified applicants a fair chance.
The gratitude directed at Parliament is palpable. Students say their long-standing plea — that an internship should not be a punishment or a source of hardship — has finally been met with decisive action.
The bill’s approval, they argue, signals an understanding that internships form the bridge between training and employment, and that young Kenyans deserve support as they cross it.
As the country awaits full implementation, the mood among students is one of hope.
They expect that when the bill becomes law, it will not only ease their financial struggles but also enhance the value of practical training across the public sector.
For Joseph, Ken, Winny, Alice, Victor, Jasper and Walter — and thousands like them — the promise of a fair, supported internship is no longer a distant dream but a pending reality, made possible by lawmakers who “finally heard the cry of the youth.”
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