President William Ruto has directed the Public Service Commission (PSC) to increase the number of interns recruited under the Public Service Internship Programme (PSIP) to 20,000 from the next cohort. The President made the pronouncement while commissioning 3902 interns at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre (KICC) on 31.03.2023.
The President noted that the internship programme is crucial in bridging the skills gap between graduates and employers, making them more employable. He also urged the newly appointed interns to take the opportunity to learn and re-energize the public service with their innovation and fresh ideas.
"There are many things we learn in school and college, but there are many more to learn in workplaces. We can only become and get better as a nation if we learn from those who have been, so we can improve those who will be," said President Ruto.
The President also directed the Attorney General, PSC, and the CS Public Service to restructure the public service internship programme to benefit more young Kenyans and anchor it in law.
Further, President Ruto affirmed his administration's commitment to supporting the PSC in reforming the public service. He noted that effective and motivated public service will be crucial in realizing the government's bottom-up economic agenda.
"We are deliberately transforming the Public Service to make it adapt to the changing times and more responsive to the needs of the people" H.E William Ruto.
At the same event, the President launched the 2021/2022 Report on Status of Compliance with the Values and Principles of Articles 10 and 232 of the Constitution. The report is prepared by the Public Service Commission and submitted to parliament and the President as per the law.
The event was also attended by Deputy President Hon. Rigathi Gachagua, Prime Cabinet Secretary Hon. Musalia Mudavadi, Public Service Cabinet Secretary Hon. Aisha Jumwa, and several cabinet secretaries, Permanent secretaries, heads of state departments, PSC Chairperson Amb. Anthony Muchiri, Commissioners, 3902 interns, and the First Cohort of the Public Service Emerging Fellowship Program (PSELF).