It is a major win for doctors after the government posted 1,800 medical interns with a monthly salary of Sh206,000, following standoff over pay dispute.

The posting also includes 6,484 health interns comprising clinical officers and nurses, in what has been described as a landmark achievement for the country’s public health sector.

The doctors’ salary had been a subject of controversy after the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) recommended slashing interns' pay from Sh206,000 to between Sh40,000 and Sh70,000.

This triggered uproar from the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU).

KMPDU Secretary General Davji Atellah welcomed the move, describing it as a historic milestone.

“For the first time ever, more than 6,000 healthcare workers have been officially posted for internship, marking a tremendous leap forward for public healthcare in Kenya,” said Dr Atellah.

The current cohort includes 1,800 medical interns, 659 clinical officers (BSc) 1,993 clinical officer interns and 2,098 nursing officers (BSc).Dr Atellah said posting of intern doctors and other cadres will enhance actualisation of Universal Health Coverage (UHC), that requires human resource to provide care to patients.

“We have raised our voices, marched in the streets, and stood in solidarity to demand the posting of interns and fair remuneration as per the 2017 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA),” said the union official.

“Today’s achievement shows that our collective struggle was not in vain," he added.

The union applauded Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale for keeping his word as per the agreement on April 10, 2025.

“His (Duale) forthright attitude towards a motivated workforce will ensure industrial harmony in the sector, hence the much-needed UHC,” said Atellah.Further, KMPDU said President William Ruto’s decisive leadership has made doctors pay and posting of all health interns possible.

Ministry and SRC were yet to agree on the doctors salary.

Initially, according to the 2017 CBA signed between doctors and the Ministry of Health, an intern doctor should earn Sh206,000 per month.

But SRC slashed the pay to between Sh47,000 and Sh70,000, attracting the wrath of the health workers.

In May, Duale told the Senate Committee on Health that KMPDU was demanding Sh206,000 pay for medical interns, but SRC had recommended Sh70,000.

Duale assured the Senate that the ministry was holding consultations with all stakeholders to reach a consensus and avoid delayed posting or strike, as witnessed in 2024.

He said he was also in talks with President Ruto and the National Treasury to address the matter.

The Health CS appeared before the committee following a petition by KMPDU on the implementation of the 2017 CBA and medical interns pay in effort avert a strike in July if the issue remained unresolved.

Last year, the controversy over medical interns sucked in  Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha and SRC.

The pay dispute led to disruption of healthcare services, after the union called for a nationwide strike.

KMPDU accused Nakhumicha of belittling medical interns, after she said that they were like any intern student.

According to the Medical Council's Act, medical interns are government employees working under supervision but performing all services of a doctor.

An intern is attached to a hospital during the third year as a medical student.

After years of study, depending on the course or university of training, medical students graduate as doctors, and proceed on internship programme on an employment basis.

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During posting, they handle health roles on their own and only seek guidance when need be.

The role is performed with close monitoring by consultant doctors.

The intern doctors and other cadres are expected to report to their respective stations immediately after picking their posting letters.

“Eligible pre-interns are instructed to collect their posting letters in person, at the Ministry of Health headquarters in Nairobi,” said Public Health PS Mary Muthoni.

“We have released 6,486 intern letters as promised. Report to your stations between July 1, and July 15, 2025,” she added.