Internship Salaries in Kenya

Most companies in Kenya don’t pay interns any wages. They instead allow them to work and in return receive letters of recommendation as satisfaction of having fulfilled the requirement for the course the interns are undertaking. These internship salaries in Kenya are therefore a template upon which one can decide to follow when choosing among those businesses that pay interns or find the average salary for the interns who are paid.

The following companies do offer a stipend for all interns who come to work for them for a specified period, some of whom are later absorbed into the workforce as full-time employees. It should be noted the listed companies below aren't the only ones that pay their interns, there are many more not mentioned.

Sectors of the economy where chances of getting paid during internship are:

• NGOs
• Banking and Finance
• Insurance
• Research institutions
• Manufacturing
• Clearing and forwarding
• Milk processing
• Media

Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA)

The Kenya Revenue Authority takes in interns annually which are at times later absorbed on a permanent basis. At KRA Interns get a salary of Kshs 15,000/= per month.

Safaricom

Interns at Safaricom get approximately Kshs 20,000/= per month. Compared to other organizations, the company pays better. Other companies that pay the same amount include Kenya Commercial Bank, Deloitte, Cytonn Investments Management, KPMG, Unilever, Kenya Ports Authority

PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC)

PwC Kenya is one of Kenya’s leading professional services firms that focuses on offering audit and Assurance as well as advisory and Tax services. Internship at the company will not be overlooked as interns or graduate trainees are paid a monthly salary of Kshs 70,000/=.

Media Houses (The Standard Group, Radio Africa, Nation Media Group, Royal Media).

Media houses in Kenya have also not been left behind. From the list below, Radio Africa is the least of paying media houses.

• The Standard Group- Kshs 35,000 to Kshs 40,000 (varies depending on position).
• Radio Africa- Kshs 20,000 to Kshs 30,000 (varies depending on position).
• Nation Media Group - Kshs 40,000- Kshs 80,000 (varies depending on position).
• Royal Media- Kshs 20,000 to Kshs 40,000(varies depending on position).

From time to time, these companies recruit interns through advertisements they place in their newspapers they own or other media sources, so, be on the lookout for any advertisements for internship positions.

Insurance Regulatory Authority (IRA)

When you are an intern at Insurance Regulatory Authority you will be paid roughly Kshs 40,000.

East Africa Breweries (EABL)

As one of the leading manufacturing companies in Kenya, EABL pays its interns approximately Kshs 10,000. Working in this organization will launch your career to great heights.  According to the Cytonn survey in 2019, EABL was considered one of the second-best employers in Kenya.

KENGEN

Another company that pays interns is KENGEN. KENGEN interns are paid Kshs 25, 000/=.

Central Bank of Kenya

The Central Bank of Kenya is an independent public institution that works to ensure stability in prices and promote economic growth. Occasionally, CBK will announce internship positions where they offer training to graduates who later join the job market after six months. The intern salary pay is about Kshs 50,000 to Kshs 70,000.

Airtel Kenya

Airtel Kenya interns get an approximate monthly salary of Kshs 20,000 to Kshs 25,000.

Centum Kenya

Centum is East Africa’s leading investment company listed on the Nairobi Securities Exchange and Uganda Securities Exchange. Interns at Centum can earn between Kshs 40,000 to Kshs 60,000.

Parliament of Kenya

The parliament also employs interns whom it pays very well. If you are lucky to get an internship at parliament you will be paid Kshs 25,000 per month.

Unilever

Internship pay is between Kshs 20,000 to 95,000.

Kenya Power And Lighting Company Ltd (KPLC)

Starting pay for an intern can be Kshs 35,000

Conclusion

The median salary for the interns, based on the different salary scales from different companies is about Kshs 16,500. This indicates that any intern that has a chance to be incorporated into the staff of the above companies as an intern can take care of majority of the basic needs: food, housing and fare, but those who gain such an opportunity in high paying companies are better off with chances of even having some savings or better, being absorbed into the organization.

It should be noted that all public government institutions which get interns through the Public Service Commission are mandated to pay interns a monthly stipend of Kshs 25,000 per month. Don't be put off by the internship salaries in Kenya as those that pay are fewer. Concentrate on getting a good experience at the workplace.