Medical Students Demand Faster Internship Placements

A growing number of Kenyan medical graduates are calling on the Ministry of Health to speed up the placement of interns, arguing that delays are stalling their careers and worsening stress. According to the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU), interns should be posted within 30 days after clearing regulatory checks — a demand that echoes what is specified in their Collective Bargaining Agreement.
The delay is not just a personal concern for the graduates; they also warn it could undermine the healthcare system’s capacity. As pointed out by AMSUN (Association of Medical Students, University of Nairobi) and other stakeholders, interns provide vital frontline services in hospitals, especially where staffing shortages are acute. Medical students say that by slowing down placements, the government is limiting both their ability to complete required supervised training and the system’s ability to deliver care effectively.
Some of the interns have expressed growing frustration with the Ministry’s response. Between March and May 2024, medical graduates staged protests at Afya House — the MoH headquarters — demanding faster placement. In March 2024, the Cabinet Secretary for Health acknowledged the delay, but pointed to funding and capacity challenges, including the availability of adequate trainers, as part of the problem.