After more than six months of waiting, the government has announced that  doctor interns will finally be posted starting July 1.

This follows a meeting between Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale and the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) officials led by Secretary-General Dr Davji Atellah.

“We want to commit to the leadership and the country that the balloting for internships has begun and the posting will be done on July 1. We are also planning to expand the number of facilities that can accommodate interns, so none of them are left without,” Duale said.

Duale said the ministry is working with county governments and regulatory bodies to ensure all interns are placed in accredited facilities.

Among the key sticking points in previous discussions has been the payment of interns. KMPDU has insisted on the full implementation of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) which pegs intern salaries at Sh206,000.

The government, however, proposed a reduced figure of Sh70,000 which sparked protests.

Duale acknowledged the discrepancy and promised to take the matter up with Treasury and the President.

“I got some insights from the leadership into the importance of the Sh206,000. I will consult with the National Treasury, the Cabinet, and even the President and revert in two to three weeks,” Duale said.

Dr. Atellah, the KMPDU described the meeting as promising, but added that the union would remain vigilant until the commitments are fulfilled.

“For the first time, the issue of interns that we have been trying to explain to everybody, the roles interns are doing, the CS seemed to have understood it perfectly,” said Dr. Atellah.

Duale acknowledged the discrepancy and pledged to escalate the matter to the highest levels of government.

“I have gained insight into the significance of the Sh206,000 figure. I will consult with the National Treasury, the Cabinet, and even the President, and revert within two to three weeks,” he said.

He added:

“It is my hope, prayer, and commitment that never again will our health workers take to the streets. Health workers play a critical and moral role—they are saving lives every minute.”

The Cabinet Secretary also addressed other grievances raised by the union, including the delayed payment of basic salary arrears for doctors under the national government, unpaid tuition fees for post-graduate medical students stationed in level six hospitals, and the monthly lockout of civil servants—including doctors—from the State Health Agency (SHA) system after the 9th of each month.

“This is an administrative issue, and I will convene meetings with SHA, the Digital Health Agency, and the National Treasury to find a lasting solution,” said Duale.

Dr Atellah described the meeting as “decisive and promising”, but cautioned that the union would remain vigilant until all commitments are fulfilled.

“For the first time, the issue of interns that we’ve tried to explain to everyone—the roles interns play—seems to have been understood clearly by the CS,” said Dr Atellah.

He also confirmed that salary arrears for around 1,000 doctors are expected to be paid by next week, and that doctors working under the Ministry of Health would receive their pending payments by April and May.

“Goodwill is always demonstrated when promises are honoured. As a union, we will engage our members in discussions, including during the upcoming annual delegates’ conference, and we hope all these commitments will be implemented by July as agreed. Because if promises are not fulfilled, then it is the government that is going on strike—not us,” he said.

Dr Atellah added that the KMPDU Special Delegates’ Conference, scheduled for next month, will evaluate the government’s progress on these promises—and that the union has not ruled out industrial action if the commitments are not met.