KMPDU welcomes July 1 internship rollout, hails victory for doctors’ advocacy
By Ndiritu Wanjiru, June 27, 2026The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) has welcomed the commencement of the 2026/2027 medical internship programme, describing it as a major victory achieved through years of sustained advocacy and collective action by doctors across the country.
In a statement issued by KMPDU Secretary-General Davji Bhimji Atellah on Friday, June 26, 2026, the union announced that the new cohort of medical interns will officially begin their internship on July 1, 2026, following confirmation from the Ministry of Health.
“As confirmed by the Ministry of Health, the 2026/2027 cohort of medical interns will commence their internship on 1st July 2026, with a seamless transition into service and timely payment of their salaries. Pre-interns have also been invited to collect their offer letters during the official flag-off ceremony on Monday, 29th June,” Atellah noted in a statement.
The union also noted that pre-interns have been invited to collect their internship offer letters during the official flag-off ceremony scheduled for Monday, June 29.
According to KMPDU, the smooth transition into internship and the assurance of timely salary payments mark a significant departure from previous years when newly qualified doctors faced prolonged delays in postings and uncertainty over remuneration.
Atellah recalled the difficult struggles witnessed in 2024 when young doctors staged demonstrations demanding internship placements and payment of salaries provided for under the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
“The struggles of 2024 tested our resolve, but they also proved the power of unity and collective action,” he said.
He emphasised that the latest development is not merely an administrative achievement but the direct result of relentless negotiations, collective bargaining and solidarity among doctors who stood firm in defending the rights and welfare of medical professionals.
KMPDU noted that the successful implementation of the internship programme demonstrates that sustained engagement with the government can deliver meaningful reforms.
The union further appreciated that the culture of delayed postings and uncertainty that previously characterised medical internships is gradually being dismantled.
The union dedicated the achievement to every doctor who participated in protests, leaders who engaged in negotiations and members who remained steadfast throughout the campaign for fair treatment of medical interns.
Addressing the incoming interns, Atellah congratulated them on beginning their medical careers under improved conditions.
“May you begin your journey knowing that your predecessors stood together to make this path smoother for you,” he said.
Ministry deploys 6,360 healthcare interns for 2026/27
In a press statement issued on Friday, June 26, 2026, the ministry said preparations for the deployment had been finalised, marking the start of the internship programme for eligible healthcare professionals and pre-interns across the country.
“This internship programme is a critical step in equipping pre-interns with the hands-on experience necessary to deliver quality and responsive healthcare services to the people of Kenya,” the statement read.