Progress Made, Challenges Ahead, and a Clear Agenda for Kenya’s Health Workforce

NAIROBI: August 18, 2026

The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) today participated in the Inaugural Health Summit 2026, where the Union presented a comprehensive assessment of the state of Kenya’s health sector before H.E. President William Samoei Ruto, Cabinet Secretary for Health Hon. Aden Duale, the Council of Governors (CoG) leadership led by H.E. Ahmed Abdullahi, and other key stakeholders.

Representing healthcare workers across the country, KMPDU used the platform not only to acknowledge areas of progress but also to raise critical questions affecting doctors, healthcare workers, and patients nationwide.

The Summit provided an opportunity to reflect on gains achieved through sustained engagement, while charting a path toward a stronger, more equitable, and more accountable health system.

Significant Progress Through Structured Dialogue

KMPDU acknowledged several important milestones that have been achieved through sustained collaboration between the Ministry of Health, County Governments, and healthcare stakeholders.

Timely Internship Postings and Improved Remuneration

For the first time in many years, internship deployment has become more predictable and less confrontational.

Over the last three years, medical interns—including doctors, nurses, and clinical officers—have been posted without the prolonged disputes and demonstrations that historically characterized the process. More importantly, interns are now receiving their salaries within the first month of deployment.

The current cohort deployed between 1st and 27th July 2026 is expected to receive remuneration before the end of the month, marking a major departure from previous situations where interns waited several months before receiving their first salary.

This progress reflects the value of structured engagement and proactive planning in addressing long-standing workforce challenges.

Implementation of Historic CBA Arrears

KMPDU also recognized the implementation of outstanding arrears arising from the 2017–2021 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).

A total of 5,693 doctors across the country have now received arrears accumulated over seven years, paid in accelerated instalments beginning in December 2024 and continuing through September 2025.

Depending on individual circumstances and grades, payments ranged from approximately KSh 300,000 to over KSh 6 million.

The Union further noted progress in the implementation of revised salary structures following confirmation by the Council of Governors that counties have received the necessary payroll coding systems and are currently integrating the adjustments into their payroll processes.

KMPDU now looks forward to the full settlement of the remaining balances for the 2024/2025 financial year by November 2026.

Progress in SHA and Health Infrastructure Development

The Union also acknowledged notable improvements in the rollout of the Social Health Authority (SHA) and investments in healthcare infrastructure across the country.

National and county governments have continued expanding health facilities and strengthening specialized referral services, including the development of Level 6 hospitals designed to improve access to advanced care closer to communities.

While challenges remain, KMPDU recognizes that sustainable universal health coverage requires both infrastructure investment and adequate support for healthcare workers.

Landmark Gains for Doctors Across Kenya

More Than 1,500 Doctors Transitioned to Permanent and Pensionable Terms

One of the most significant achievements highlighted during the Summit was the conversion of over 1,500 doctors from casual and contract arrangements to Permanent and Pensionable (PnP) employment terms.

This transformation has strengthened job security, improved workforce stability, and ensured better compliance with negotiated employment standards.

Key examples include:

Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH): 225 doctors previously earning approximately KSh 80,000 monthly under casual arrangements were converted to Permanent and Pensionable employment, with remuneration aligned to CBA provisions.
Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral and Research Hospital (KUTRRH): All doctors transitioned to PnP terms.
Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH): All doctors transitioned to PnP terms.
Nairobi City County: More than 300 doctors previously employed under contractual arrangements have now been converted to Permanent and Pensionable employment.
Numerous counties have undertaken similar harmonization efforts.

For KMPDU, these transitions represent a major victory in the ongoing fight against precarious employment within Kenya’s health sector.

Progress in Postgraduate Training

The Union also reported substantial progress in postgraduate training support.

More than 500 doctors have already had their postgraduate training fees approved and paid, allowing them to continue specialist training without interruption.

KMPDU is actively following up on the remaining cases to ensure that all outstanding approvals are processed within the current quarter.

Specialist training remains critical to strengthening Kenya’s healthcare capacity and addressing shortages in key medical disciplines.

Four Strategic Questions Presented to the President

While acknowledging progress, KMPDU emphasized that several structural issues remain unresolved.

The Union therefore presented four key policy questions and demands to the President and government leadership.

1. Where Is the Roadmap for Employing 20,000 Healthcare Workers?

KMPDU sought clarity regarding the administration’s commitment to recruit 20,000 healthcare workers, including doctors, nurses, clinical officers, laboratory professionals, and physiotherapists.

With only a limited period remaining in the current government cycle, the Union called for a clear implementation roadmap and progress report on achieving this target.

Adequate staffing remains one of the most important determinants of quality healthcare delivery.

2. Commitment to Peaceful CBA Negotiations

The Union called upon both national and county governments to commit to concluding the ongoing 2025–2029 CBA negotiations through dialogue rather than confrontation.

KMPDU emphasized that collective bargaining is a fundamental pillar of labour relations and urged all stakeholders to ensure that negotiations proceed without forcing healthcare workers into industrial action.

3. Ending Chronic Salary Delays in Counties

KMPDU raised concerns over persistent salary delays affecting healthcare workers in numerous counties.

The Union noted that while health workers employed under the national government generally receive salaries on time, many county-employed healthcare workers continue to experience delays that disrupt livelihoods and service delivery.

KMPDU called for clear national interventions to guarantee timely salary payments across all devolved units.

4. Protecting Medical Cover Through Reliable Statutory Remittances

The Union also highlighted challenges arising from delayed statutory remittances by county governments.

When deductions intended for healthcare coverage are not remitted on time, healthcare workers can be denied access to medical services despite having contributions deducted from their salaries.

KMPDU called for institutional safeguards to ensure uninterrupted access to comprehensive medical cover regardless of administrative delays.

President Ruto’s Response

Responding to the issues raised, President William Ruto acknowledged the concerns and outlined several commitments.

The President noted that while substantial progress has been achieved regarding intern deployment and historical CBA arrears, additional coordination between national and county governments remains necessary to address recruitment targets and salary challenges.

Among the commitments made were:

Payment of Outstanding Salaries

The President indicated that outstanding salary issues would be addressed urgently, with efforts made to clear pending payments within a week.

Peaceful Conclusion of CBA Negotiations

He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring that the ongoing 2025–2029 CBA negotiations are concluded through dialogue and consensus.

Protection of Healthcare Workers Under SHA

The President directed that healthcare workers should not be denied access to healthcare services due to delays in remittances by county governments.

Recruitment of Additional Health Workers

The government committed to recruiting 5,000 healthcare workers during the current financial year, including doctors and other critical health professionals.

Building on Progress While Remaining Vigilant

The Inaugural Health Summit provided an important platform for honest reflection on the state of Kenya’s healthcare system.

KMPDU welcomes the progress achieved in internship deployment, CBA implementation, conversion of doctors to Permanent and Pensionable terms, postgraduate training support, and ongoing health sector reforms.

At the same time, the Union remains steadfast in pursuing timely salary payments, adequate staffing, peaceful CBA negotiations, comprehensive medical cover, and improved working conditions for all healthcare workers.

A strong health system depends on a motivated, protected, and adequately supported workforce. As Kenya continues its journey toward universal health coverage, KMPDU will remain at the forefront of advocating for policies that strengthen both healthcare workers and patient outcomes.