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Job pathway · Kenya

Graduates and entry-level jobs in Kenya

Most Kenyan vacancies are advertised in a handful of places, and the government ones are free to apply for. The two things that cost people jobs here are missing the official portals entirely and paying someone who promised a shortcut.

Where to look Start a CV

Your resume stays on your device.

Which routes are open

Status reflects the official position at the time of writing. Rules change often — follow each link and confirm before you act on it.

  • Public Service Commission vacancies

    Open

    National government roles are advertised through the Commission and applied for on its portal. Applications are free. County roles are advertised separately by each county public service board.

    Check the official source

  • Public Service Internship Programme

    Open

    A paid, fixed-term graduate internship placing people across ministries, state agencies and public universities. It runs in cohorts, so the portal is only open at certain times — check rather than assume.

    Check the official source

  • Ajira Digital — online and digital work

    Open

    A government programme offering free training for online work such as data entry, digital marketing and virtual assistance. Useful where local vacancies are scarce and you have a reliable connection.

    Check the official source

What you need before applying

  • A valid national ID and KRA PIN — most applications ask for both up front.
  • Certificates of good conduct (DCI) and, for public roles, the usual compliance certificates. These take time, so start early.
  • Scanned, legible copies of your academic certificates. Blurry uploads get applications discarded.

Where to find the jobs

Go to these directly. Applying at the source beats applying through a reposting aggregator, and the official registers let you verify an employer before you commit anything.

  • Public Service Commission

    National government vacancies and the internship programme. Free to apply.

  • BrighterMonday Kenya

    The largest private board. Set alerts rather than checking manually.

  • Fuzu

    Strong for entry-level and graduate roles, with application guidance built in.

What your graduates and entry-level CV must show

  • Two pages maximum. Put your phone number and a professional email at the very top, typed correctly.
  • Lead with education and your KCSE mean grade if you are early-career — many Kenyan employers screen on it.
  • Name attachments, internships and volunteer work as real experience, with what you actually did.
  • List referees with their title, organisation and phone number. Kenyan employers often call them before interview.

Write it now. Open the student example in the builder and replace the details with your own. It saves in your browser — no account, nothing uploaded.

Graduates and entry-level in Kenya — FAQ

Should I pay an agent to get a government job?

No. Public service applications in Kenya are free, and anyone charging for a listing, a shortlisting or an appointment letter is running a scam. Report them rather than paying.

How important is the internship programme?

For graduates it is one of the few structured routes into the public service, and it pays a stipend. It runs in cohorts, so the window matters more than the application itself — check the portal regularly.

Do I need a cover letter?

For public service roles, follow exactly what the advert asks for. For private employers a short, specific letter naming the role and one relevant achievement still helps, because most applicants send nothing.

What if I have no formal work experience?

Attachments, internships, church and community roles, and any small business you have run all count. Describe what you were responsible for and what changed, rather than listing the title alone.

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