A Major Step Forward for Kenya’s Healthcare System
Kenya’s public health system has seen a significant transformation as the government finally took action to place medical, pharmacy, and dental interns who had been waiting for months for their placements. The deployment of over 6,484 healthcare interns, including 2,000 medical doctors, has brought much-needed relief to hospitals that have long been overwhelmed by staff shortages. This move also provides young professionals with valuable experience and opportunities to contribute to the healthcare sector.
This initiative has been widely welcomed by medical graduates, healthcare facilities, and stakeholders alike. It is viewed as a lifeline for both struggling hospitals and hopeful young professionals. Moreover, it marks a critical step in addressing youth unemployment, which has been a growing concern in the country.
However, beneath the optimism lies a deeper issue: will practicing doctors finally receive their long-overdue arrears? And can the system sustain these postings and payments in the years to come? Currently, the healthcare system relies on both domestic and foreign donor funds, which can sometimes be unpredictable. This dependency raises concerns about the long-term stability of the system.
The Ministry of Health announced the posting of interns in July 2025, bringing an end to months of uncertainty for graduates. Cabinet Secretary for Health, Aden Duale, highlighted the internship program as a bold demonstration of the government’s commitment to fulfilling its promises to Kenya’s healthcare workforce. This move represents a pivotal shift, not only addressing chronic unemployment among medical graduates but also restoring hope to thousands of youth.
In addition to doctors, the interns hired include pharmacists, dentists, clinical officers, and nurses. This broader effort is part of a push to strengthen universal health coverage. The government allocated KSh 4.5 billion to this initiative, signaling a strong investment in the future of the healthcare sector.
Hospitals, especially those in rural areas, are already seeing relief as interns help ease heavy workloads in maternity wards, emergency units, and general clinics. These freshly trained health workers are making visible contributions while gaining critical exposure. Their presence is helping to address acute staffing gaps and improve service delivery.
Yet even as this milestone is celebrated, anxiety lingers. Data from the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) shows that many doctors have not received their Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) arrears. Some arrears date back as far as seven years. Kenya continues to face a critical shortage of doctors—fewer than 15 per 100,000 people—far below the World Health Organization’s recommended 44 per 100,000. Meanwhile, physicians on the ground remain overworked, understaffed, and demoralized.
While the government should be commended for posting interns, it must also clear arrears for practicing doctors and develop a sustainable plan to prevent future crises. If Kenya is serious about achieving its universal health coverage goals, the proficiency and well-being of its medical professionals cannot be overlooked. The young interns stepping into public hospitals bring fresh knowledge, but the seasoned practitioners—those who have held the system together through years of staff shortages—are often unpaid or underpaid. This is not simply a wage dispute; it is about valuing professionalism, experience, and expertise.
Interns may fill gaps for now, but frontline doctors—with skills, diagnostic mastery, and institutional memory—remain essential. Unless these issues are addressed, the imbalance risks reversing the gains made through intern deployment.
Sustainability hinges on coordination and funding. Ensuring continuity requires predictable financing and coordination across all levels of government. Adequate treasury allocation and increased health budgets are necessary to support both interns and seasoned doctors without defaulting on promises.
Timely disbursement by the Ministry of Health, in coordination with county governments, is essential to ensure salaries and allowances reach recipients without delay. Accountability and oversight are key to preventing the annual disruptions that undermine morale and service delivery.
Posting interns is undoubtedly a forward step and a meaningful victory in reducing youth unemployment. However, for this gesture to translate into lasting reform, Kenya’s healthcare system must deliver on its commitments to practicing doctors—clearing arrears, ensuring timely pay, and building a robust workforce structure that can withstand financial strain. Without predictable budgets, Kenya risks repeating the annual disruptions that harm doctors’ morale and delay patient care.
The government’s action to post interns reflects responsiveness and a commitment to healthcare reform. It offers hope to young doctors who had felt forgotten. But for frontline doctors battling daily patient loads, hope must be matched with timely pay. Salaries and allowances are not a privilege; they are an investment in Kenya’s universal health coverage goals.
Conclusion
Posting interns is a step forward. Ensuring doctors are paid on time and building a healthcare workforce system that can withstand future budget pressures is the true test. For the system to truly flourish, the proficiency and dedication of experienced doctors must be honored, not just in words, but in pay.
