Duale reassures medics state will honour CBAs

He said 1,035 medical officer interns have been balloted for placement begining from July 2025.

by SHARON MWENDE

News10 May 2025 - 18:30

In Summary

Duale said his ministry is tackling the internship crisis with urgency, addressing the oversupply of graduates, delayed placements and weak supervision caused by unchecked expansion of training institutions.
He said in partnership with KMPDC and county governments, the government is enforcing quality standards, expanding accredited internship centres and aligning placements with workforce needs and budget realities.

Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has reiterated that the government is committed to supporting health workers and ensuring their welfare is highly prioritised.

He spoke on Saturday when he presided over the 9th Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) Annual Delegates Conference in Mombasa.

The conference was held at the Prideinn hotel.

“I reaffirmed the government's unwavering commitment to improving the welfare of healthcare workers as a critical pillar in strengthening our health system,” Duale said.

This, he said, would be achieved thtough the full implementation of all agree collective bargaining agreements and return to work formulas signed during industrial strikes.

"The government has reaffirmed its steadfast commitment to fully implementing the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) with KMPDU, recognising that the well-being of healthcare workers is central to the delivery of quality health services," Duale said.

He said the ministry is tackling the internship crisis with urgency, addressing the oversupply of graduates, delayed placements and weak supervision caused by unchecked expansion of training institutions.

He said in partnership with KMPDC and county governments, the government is enforcing quality standards, expanding accredited internship centres and aligning placements with workforce needs and budget realities.

"So far, 1,035 medical officer interns, 83 dental officer interns and 503 pharmacist interns have been balloted for placement, with rotations set to begin in July 2025," the CS said.

He also underscored the ongoing rollout of Taifa Care, a transformative programme under the Social Health Authority (SHA), and urged healthcare professionals to take the lead in sensitising the public on registration and participation.

"Through strong collaboration with all stakeholders, we have the power to transform Universal Health Coverage (UHC) from a policy vision into a practical, lived reality for every Kenyan. Let us align our strategies, resources and efforts to ensure that quality, affordable healthcare reaches every ward, clinic and household across the country," he said.

Present during the conference were Principal Secretaries Ouma Oluga (Medical Services) and Mary Muthoni (Public Health), and received by Mombasa County Governor Abdulswamad Nassir and KMPDU leadership led by the chairperson Abidan Mwachi and secretary general Davji Atellah.

The Conference, which began on Friday, marked one year since KMPDU’s 56-day nationwide doctors' strike, which brought to light the long-standing grievances in the country’s healthcare sector.

On Wednesday, Atellah said the strike was “a testament to the unwavering resolve and unity of Kenyan doctors in their pursuit of a better healthcare system”.

He noted that the strike led to the signing of a Return-to-Work Formula (RWTF), which laid out several commitments from the government aimed at addressing doctors' concerns.

“Today, we affirm that the implementation of these commitments is underway, marking crucial progress in addressing the long-standing issues that necessitated our industrial action,” he said.

On May 4, Atellah threatened a doctors’ strike if Nakuru, Laikipia and Kajiado counties failed to implement their part of a labour deal by May 24.

Speaking during the South Rift Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Nakuru, he said the counties should fully honour the May 2024 RTWF and CBA by then.

“We will no longer wait for justice. We will enforce it,” he said.

Atellah, however, noted progress had been made nationally, especially regarding arrears, internship placements, postgraduate training, promotions and medical insurance.

However, he accused some counties of “blatantly” violating the agreement.

While speaking in Mombasa during the conference, the KMPDU secretary general acknowledged that the Ministry of Health had shown goodwill regarding implementation of agreements aimed at improving doctors' welfare.

He attributed the gains to Duale's intervention since taking over from his predecessor Deborah Mulongo.

Mulongo took over from Susan Nakhumicha following a cabinet reshuffle in June last year at the height of anti-government Gen Z-led protests.

"It's a pride we have as a union, the milestones we have today. Last year at the delegates' conference, we were saying 'Nakhumicha must go'. But today in our new delegates' conference we are saying Duale must come," Atellah said.