TikTok content creator Elvis has called out the Kenyan internship system, describing it as “a complete scam” that wastes graduates’ time and energy.
In an Instagram post on Monday, March 30, 2026, he highlighted the difficulties students face in securing attachments and the lack of meaningful learning once they are placed.
He noted that after years of study, many graduates are told to find an attachment in their final year, often requiring them to walk from office to office, submitting CVs and pleading for a chance. According to him, the reality is far from the professional experience students expect.
Menial Tasks, No Learning
“When you finally get a placement, most of what you do is make tea, photocopy documents, file papers that nobody reads, or sit idle at a desk,” Elvis said. “What exactly do you learn? Nothing. You learn how to look busy and survive boredom.”
Elvis also highlighted that the internship system has remained largely unchanged for decades. “The world has changed. The economy has changed. The tools have changed. The jobs have changed. But we are still sending students to sit in government offices and count files,” he noted.
He emphasised that companies often treat interns like free labour without any obligation to teach real skills, while universities focus only on ensuring a signed letter confirms completion. “A signed letter does not make you employable,” Elvis highlighted.
In his post, Elvis called for a complete overhaul of the system. He said internships should provide real projects, practical experience, and accountability from host companies.
“Train people to do real work. Give them real projects. Hold companies accountable for what they teach. Or stop wasting everyone’s time,” he said.
He highlighted that while internships are meant to prepare students for the workforce, most fail to provide meaningful experience.
“Deep down, every graduate who has done an attachment knows exactly what I am talking about,” he noted.
