Senator Okech urges review of outdated internship policy to empower youth
By Faith Lagat, October 30, 2025Migori Senator Eddy Oketch has urged the government to overhaul Kenya’s outdated internship policy, describing it as ineffective and out of touch with the realities facing young people.
Speaking during Senate proceedings in support of a motion by Senator Samson Cherargei, Oketch said internships must be treated as a national investment rather than a routine formality.
“I rise to support this motion. The state of our nation is first measured by how it treats its children as they grow. After the children, you measure the strength of a nation by how it treats its teenagers and the kind of opportunities, exposure, and social amenities it provides. The third measure is how a nation supports its youthful population, the very group that builds the country,” Oketch said.
Reforms
Oketch emphasised that Kenya’s high youth unemployment rate, ranging between 35 per cent and 67 per cent, calls for immediate reforms to equip young people with practical skills and work experience.
“Internships are critical, and the government must treat them as an investment if it is serious about empowering young people. Beyond the knowledge acquired in school, the government should ensure that young people can apply their skills practically and be absorbed as a reliable source of labour,” he stated.
He proposed the establishment of a clear and inclusive internship policy with fair selection criteria and adequate compensation.
“There should be a clear policy that involves a rigorous process of identifying young people and providing them with a reasonable stipend that supports their basic needs. The regulations must cater to their welfare, and there must be proper metrics to guide this investment. The government cannot continue relying on a six-year-old regulation that is no longer effective,” he added.
Challenges facing young interns
His sentiments were echoed by Senator Esther Okenyuri, who described the current internship environment as exploitative. “In this country, as a young person, you are literally begging for everything: food, healthcare, education, upkeep, even entertainment. If you look at the prevailing conditions, young people are simply searching for a place to find shelter. It has become modern-day slavery to secure an internship in this country,” she said.
Okenyuri highlighted additional social challenges facing interns, including gender-based violence and drug abuse, calling for a policy shift and improved remuneration. “The Public Service must lead by example,” she noted, backing a proposal to raise the internship stipend from Ksh30,000 to Ksh50,000.