THE PUBLIC SERVICE INTERNSHIP BILL, 2022

Background

The Public Service Internship Bill, 2022 establishes a legal framework to govern the internship of college and university graduates within public service institutions in Kenya. The Bill aims to ensure well-structured and coordinated internship programmes that facilitate hands-on training, skills acquisition, and professional registration.

New Obligations

• Advertising Internship Vacancies: The person in charge of a public service institution must identify and declare internship opportunities, advertising them on the institution's website and in at least two nationwide newspapers. Advertisements must specify the areas of specialization, total number of interns needed, internship duration, and application deadlines.
• Payment of Stipends: Public service institutions are obligated to pay interns a monthly stipend and any other benefits prescribed by the Cabinet Secretary, or a monthly payment for full-time service.
• Insurance Cover: Public service institutions must provide a personal accident insurance cover for every intern for the duration of their internship.
• Entitlement to Leave: Interns are entitled to sick leave, maternity or paternity leave, and other leave on a pro-rata basis as determined by the Cabinet Secretary.
• Reporting: Public service institutions must submit quarterly reports to the Cabinet Secretary detailing their internship programmes and any associated challenges.
• Consideration in Recruitment: When recruiting candidates for employment, public service institutions must consider a candidate's previous internship within the public service.

Penalties

• Termination of Internship: An intern's contract may be discontinued on the grounds of absence from the institution without permission or reasonable cause for more than seventy-two hours, gross or disorderly conduct, or commission of a criminal offence.