The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) has welcomed the government’s decision to deploy 6,360 healthcare interns, saying the move marks the end of years of uncertainty that saw young doctors fight for internship placements and delayed salaries.
The union’s response came shortly after the Ministry of Health announced that the 2026/2027 internship cohort will begin the mandatory 12-month internship on July 1, with successful applicants expected to collect their offer letters at Afya House on Monday.
KMPDU Secretary-General Dr Davji Atellah described the deployment as a victory for doctors, saying it was achieved through months of protests, negotiations and collective action.
“There was a time when young doctors had to take to the streets simply to demand internship postings and fight for salaries already guaranteed under our CBA. The struggles of 2024 tested our resolve, but they also proved the power of unity and collective action,” Atellah said.
The doctors’ union was at the centre of last year’s nationwide strike, which brought services in public hospitals to a standstill as medics pushed for the implementation of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, timely internship placements and improved working conditions.
According to Atellah, this year’s deployment represents a major shift from the delays that had become common in previous years.
“Today, we are proud to say that those sacrifices have borne fruit,” he said.
The union also welcomed the government’s commitment to ensure interns transition into service without delays while receiving their salaries on time.
“This is more than an administrative milestone. It is the result of relentless advocacy, collective bargaining and the unwavering solidarity of doctors who refused to accept injustice as the norm,” Atellah added.
He congratulated the incoming interns, urging them to take pride in joining a profession whose members stood together to improve the system for future generations.
“To the incoming 2026/2027 interns, congratulations and welcome to service. May you begin your journey knowing that your predecessors stood together to make this path smoother for you,” he said.
The deployment of the interns is expected to strengthen staffing in public health facilities while bringing to an end months of anxiety among graduates who had been waiting for confirmation of their placements.
