Internships & attachments · 5 min read
Internships in Kenya: where to look and how to apply
Find official internship sources, check eligibility and prepare a complete application for internships, attachments and graduate programmes in Kenya.
An internship search becomes easier when you know which programmes fit your stage of training. Start with the eligibility rules and application route, then prepare evidence for the work. This guide explains how to organise that process without relying on forwarded adverts or assuming that an old recruitment round is still open. It does not announce a current intake.
Separate the programme name from its requirements
An advert may use “internship”, “industrial attachment”, “trainee” or “graduate programme”. Read the full description rather than treating these labels as interchangeable. An attachment may require current enrolment and a letter from your institution. A graduate programme may specify a completed qualification and a particular graduation period. Each employer sets the requirements stated in its own advert.
Write down your course, institution, current study status, expected or actual completion date and available placement period. Compare those details with the advert before applying. A programme that starts during your examinations may be impractical even if you meet the academic criteria.
Start with official sources
For Public Service Commission opportunities, use the official PSC recruitment portal linked below and check the current advert. Do not use the deadline or eligibility rules from a previous intake as if they apply to a new one. The portal provides the Commission’s recruitment route; seeing the portal online does not mean an internship cohort is currently open.
For other organisations, enter through the employer’s own website and follow its careers link. Your institution’s careers or placement office can also help you confirm whether an opportunity meets course requirements. On Work.ke, open the original source from a listing and read it before submitting documents.
Build an eligibility checklist for each advert
Keep “required”, “preferred” and “not stated” separate in your notes. If an essential condition is unclear, contact the organisation through an independently verified channel. Do not pay someone who promises to adjust your eligibility or place your name on a shortlist.
- Study status: currently enrolled, awaiting graduation or already graduated?
- Qualification: which course, level or professional training is required?
- Dates: which graduation period, application deadline and start date are stated?
- Location: can you attend the advertised workplace for the full placement?
- Documents: is an institution letter, transcript, CV or application form required?
- Submission: which portal, address, subject line or reference must you use?
Prepare a small, relevant application pack
Write a CV that connects your coursework or practical activity to the internship duties. A procurement student might explain a class exercise involving supplier comparisons. An IT student might describe a working project and their own contribution. Label coursework clearly; do not present a simulated assignment as work for a real client.
Request an institution letter early if the advert requires one. Check that names and dates agree across your documents. Submit only the files requested, using readable names and the stated file formats. If the portal has separate upload fields, put the correct document in each field instead of uploading the same combined file everywhere.
Keep a record that prevents missed steps
Use a notebook or spreadsheet with one row per application. A short record makes it easier to distinguish a saved draft from a completed submission and to find the correct advert if you are called. Keep sensitive files in a private location, not in a publicly shared folder.
Employer and programme: Official advert URL: Reference number: Eligibility checked: Closing date and stated time zone: Required documents: Submission date: Confirmation or application number: Next step and date:
After submitting, look for the portal’s confirmation or other stated proof of receipt. Save it. An uploaded CV alone may not mean the application is finished if the form still requires a final submit step. If a technical error occurs, record the error and contact official support before the deadline when possible.
Clarify the placement before accepting
Ask who will supervise you, what work you will do and how the learning period is structured. Confirm the duration, working location, expected hours and any stated stipend or support in writing. Do not assume that transport, accommodation or a permanent role is included unless the organisation confirms it.
Think through whether you can attend consistently. Travel time, course obligations and access to the required equipment affect the value of the placement. If the opportunity is part of your course, confirm with your institution that the arrangement can satisfy its assessment requirements.
Treat a closed advert as closed
An old PDF or social post can remain online after recruitment ends. Always compare its deadline with the current date and look for a new official notice before applying again. Save useful employers to a watch list, but keep the old intake out of your active applications.
If you are not eligible yet, use the gap to build a relevant project, practise application writing and prepare documents you will need. That gives you a stronger starting point when a suitable programme opens.
Sources and further reading
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