Medical Interns Divided Over 552 Postings, Diverting Negotiations

The recent agreement between the Ministry of Health and medical interns to post 552 interns has sparked internal conflict among the interns, something that could derail the process.

The clashes arose as interns who had demonstrated outside Afya House on Monday night struggled to determine who would be granted immediate placement.

With 1,210 students awaiting postings, some for over a year, groups have formed as interns compete for priority. Ongoing negotiations between the Ministry and interns regarding the timeline for posting the remaining interns have further contributed to delays.

Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha confirmed on Wednesday that interns would be posted in phases and receive a monthly salary of Ksh 70,000. However, intern leadership insists on adhering to their Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) terms. Nakhumicha stated, 

The statement by CS Nakhumicha comes after the President promised to address the interns issue by the end of the year, during a X Space with the young people on Friday 5th July 2024.

Who Will Be Hired, Who Will Be Left Out?

The interns through the Internship Liaison Committee, expressed frustration over the lack of agreement on selection criteria for the initial 552 postings. They highlighted the complexity of the situation, given the diverse graduation dates and university entry years of the interns.

The interns have decided to withhold reporting to their postings until the Ministry provides a timeline for placing the remaining 658 interns.

Nakhumicha explained that while the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) preferred the 2017 CBA rate of Ksh 206,400 per month, current fiscal constraints make this unfeasible.

They maintained that the interns would only accept the Ksh206,400 outlined in the 2017 CBA. To meet this pay rate, the ministry requires Ksh1.4 billion.