Relief as Gov’t, KMPDU finally reach agreement for immediate posting of medical interns

The longstanding stalemate between the government and the Kenya Medical Pharmacists, Practitioners and Dentists Union (KMPDU) over the posting of medical interns is officially over after the two parties finally reached an agreement.

Health Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni and KMPDU Secretary General Dr. Davji Atellah on Wednesday announced that they had signed a deal for the immediate posting of intern doctors for their internships that set to begin next month.

“Following the signing of this addendum, the Ministry of Health will immediately post 1,210 intern doctors to commence their twelve-month internship by August 1, 2024. The Ministry has also revoked the Internship Offer Letters issued on March 18, 2024,” PS Muthoni said in a statement to newsrooms.

“The terms of engagement for these intern doctors will follow the conditions set out in their internship placement letters. The issue of remuneration, currently in dispute, will be resolved according to the final determination of the Eldoret Employment and Labour Relations Court Petition E003 of 2024 and other related cases. All arrears earned before the court's decision will be paid in full within ninety days of the ruling.”

The agreement comes after medics recently camped outside the Ministry of Health headquarters at Afya House, Nairobi in day and night-long protests to pressure the government to post the interns in line with the 2017 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).

The health workers spent most of the day on July 8 picketing outside the Health ministry headquarters at Upper Hill, and in the evening they lit candles and flashlights to continue with the protest into the night despite the light showers that were experienced in the city.