Health CS Aden Duale [DUALE/X]Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has vowed to take stern action against several universities over what he termed as irregular medical internship placements.
He warned that graduates from the affected institutions risk being denied licenses and internship slots altogether.
Speaking in Eldoret on Friday, Duale accused some universities of manipulating the internship system to favour recent graduates while sidelining others who have waited years for placement.
“We will deal with them! We will deny them their students’ license, even internships,” he declared.
Duale revealed that at least eight institutions are under scrutiny by the Ministry of Health and said letters will be dispatched to notify them of the government’s intent to restrict internship placements for their graduates unless reforms are made.
“The story of someone finishing yesterday and they are given an internship, yet we have someone who graduated two years ago and lacks one—that story will end,” he said.
The CS said the Ministry will no longer tolerate a skewed system that fosters inequality and frustration among graduates.
He further announced that only students who have fully graduated and received their certificates will be eligible for internship placement—not those holding completion letters.
“If you have a completion letter, we will not post you as an intern. We’ll only post you when you graduate and present your certificate,” he said.
His remarks come amid growing pressure from thousands of medical graduates who have remained in limbo, some for years, due to limited internship opportunities.
Duale said the Ministry is now adopting a structured approach that prioritises graduates based on how long they have waited for placement.
“As long as I am the Minister for Health, we will run this country in a fair, just, and lawful manner,” he stated.
The directive signals a major shake-up in the management of medical internships and puts universities on notice to align with the Ministry’s new standards or face serious consequences.
