KMPDU praises health reforms as 6,360 interns posted without delays
By Sharon Atieno, June 30, 2026The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) has praised ongoing reforms in Kenya’s health sector after the government successfully deployed 6,360 healthcare interns without delays, describing the move as a major shift from years of uncertainty that had previously defined internship placements in the country.
In a statement shared on its X account on Monday, June 29, 2026, KMPDU said the latest deployment marks a significant turning point in the management of human resources in the health sector, noting that newly posted interns will begin receiving their salaries immediately, unlike in previous years when young doctors were forced to protest before securing placements and remuneration.
The union credited the changes to leadership reforms under Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale, saying the government had now placed greater priority on addressing long-standing challenges affecting healthcare workers.
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6,360 interns deployed as reforms take shape
KMPDU said the posting of the 6,360 healthcare interns signals what it termed a decisive break from Kenya’s troubled history of delayed deployments, industrial actions and unresolved employment concerns that have repeatedly paralysed the health sector.
“Today’s posting of 6,360 healthcare interns, with the assurance that they will begin receiving their salaries immediately, marks a decisive break from the past, when young doctors had to demonstrate first for internship postings and then again to be paid,” the union stated.
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The doctors’ union further welcomed the government’s broader commitment to strengthen the health workforce through plans to recruit 5,000 nurses and 2,000 doctors, saying the move will significantly improve access to quality healthcare services while easing staffing shortages in public hospitals.
Shift from past internship delays
The latest remarks build on KMPDU’s earlier position after the union welcomed the July 1, 2026 internship rollout, terming it a victory achieved through years of sustained advocacy by doctors pushing for reforms in internship deployment and timely salary payments.
KMPDU Secretary General Davji Bhimji Atellah had noted that the smooth transition into internship this year marks a departure from previous years when newly qualified doctors faced prolonged delays and uncertainty over remuneration.
“The struggles of 2024 tested our resolve, but they also proved the power of unity and collective action,” Atellah said at the time.
The union now says the reforms signal a new chapter for Kenya’s healthcare system, maintaining that when health workers are supported, the entire country stands to benefit through stronger service delivery and a more stable health sector.