The Ministry of Health has announced the deployment of 6,360 healthcare interns across the country under the 2026/2027 internship programme, with the placements set to take effect from July 1, 2026.
In a statement issued on June 26, Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale said preparations for the deployment of the new cohort had been finalised and called on eligible pre-interns to collect their offer letters ahead of reporting.
The ministry said the internship programme remains a key component in preparing healthcare professionals for service delivery by equipping them with practical skills in real healthcare settings.
“The Ministry of Health wishes to inform Healthcare Professional Pre-Interns, stakeholders, and the general public that preparations for the deployment of the 2026/2027 Internship Cohort have been finalised,” the statement said.
According to the ministry, the 12-month internship programme is intended to support the development of a skilled and competent health workforce capable of responding to the country’s healthcare needs.
“In line with the Ministry’s mandate to ensure the availability of a skilled and competent health workforce, 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 ministry stated.
The CS said the interns will be posted to various healthcare facilities across the country and will officially begin their placements on July 1.
Of the total number deployed, BSc Nursing Officer interns form the largest group at 2,000.
The second-largest category comprises Clinical Officer interns at the diploma level, with 2,096 positions.
The deployment will also include 875 Medical Officer interns, 69 Dental Officer interns, 615 Pharmacy Officer interns, and 705 BSc Clinical Officer interns.
According to the ministry, the internship programme is designed to expose graduates to supervised clinical practice before full transition into professional service.
Healthcare internships form part of professional training requirements for several medical and health-related disciplines and are aimed at building competence through practical experience in public and accredited health facilities.
The ministry directed all eligible pre-interns to collect their internship offer letters in person.
“All eligible pre-interns are required to collect their internship offer letters in person on Monday, 29th June, 2026, at the Ministry of Health Headquarters, Afya House, Nairobi, from 9.00 a.m.,” the statement said.
The ministry further stated that the collection of the letters will only be done upon presentation of a valid identification card.
“Please note that the offer letters will only be issued upon presentation of a valid National Identity Card,” the ministry said.
The deployment comes as efforts to strengthen the health
workforce and expand capacity within healthcare facilities through training and
placement of healthcare professionals across the country continue.
