KMPDU Seeks Recall of Intern Doctors Posted in Kiambu as County Medics' Strike Continues

• Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists' Union has written to the Ministry of Health requesting changes to internship placements
• The union raised concerns over the safety and quality of medical training in one of the counties in which doctors have been striking since May
• Offering an alternative to the ministry regarding the interns, the union urged urgent action to protect both healthcare trainees and patients

Nancy Odindo, a TUKO.co.ke journalist, has over four years of experience covering Kenyan politics, news, and features for digital and print media.

The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists' Union (KMPDU) has formally written to Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale, requesting the immediate withdrawal of all medical officer interns currently posted to Kiambu county.

In a letter obtained by TUKO.co.ke and referenced as KMPDU/LT/263/2025, the union's secretary general, Davji Atellah, cited the ongoing and unresolved doctors' strike in Kiambu as the reason for the request.

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Why should Health Ministry recall medical interns in Kiambu?

According to Atellah, the prolonged industrial action has severely disrupted healthcare service delivery and compromised the integrity of internship training structures in the county.

The union emphasised that the presence of senior doctors is essential for the supervision, mentorship, and overall support of medical interns.

The absence of such critical oversight, he argued, not only endangers the well-being of interns and patients but also undermines the quality of medical training as outlined in internship programme guidelines.

Further, Atellah called on the ministry to urgently repost the affected interns to alternative counties with fully functional health systems and sufficient professional support.

"We therefore urge your offices to urgently repost the affected interns to alternative counties with functional healthcare systems and adequate supervision," he urged.

How long have Kiambu doctors been on strike?

Meanwhile, doctors in Kiambu county have been on strike since May 2025, protesting long-standing issues, including delayed promotions, some dating back over a decade.

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According to KMPDU national chairperson Abi Mwachi, the county has also been taking punitive actions against doctors who speak out about poor working conditions, such as inadequate medical equipment and lack of health insurance.

He noted that those who raise such concerns often face arbitrary transfers instead of support or solutions.

How many intern doctors were posted nationally?

Meanwhile, the government posted 1,800 medical officer interns on a monthly salary of KSh 206,000, resolving a months-long standoff over pay.

This decision aligned with the 2017 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) signed between doctors and the Ministry of Health.

An additional 6,484 health interns, including nurses and clinical officers, were also deployed. The move was hailed as a major win for healthcare workers and a key step in strengthening the public health sector.

The interns were assigned to accredited internship centres for a 12-month structured programme designed to offer supervised clinical training and hands-on healthcare experience.

Earlier, the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) had slashed the proposed intern salary to between KSh 47,000 and KSh 70,000, drawing widespread criticism.

Proofreading by Jackson Otukho, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.

Source: TUKO.co.ke