Intern doctors in Kenya staged a demonstration outside the Ministry of Health’s headquarters in Upper Hill on Thursday, expressing their dissatisfaction over unpaid salaries. The protestors, carrying placards and blowing vuvuzelas, voiced their frustration over the Sh965 million allocated by the government to clear salary arrears, claiming that it only covered one month’s worth of their four-month overdue stipends.
The protest comes in the wake of a statement made by Health Cabinet Secretary Deborah Barasa on Saturday, wherein she announced the release of Sh965 million to clear the salary arrears of intern health workers, including medical officers, pharmacists, nurses, clinical officers, and dentists. Barasa indicated that the government had allocated the funds to pay 826 intern medical officers, 274 pharmacists, 71 dentists, 140 degree clinical officers, 1,185 degree nursing officers, and 1,251 diploma clinical officers.
According to Barasa, Sh528 million would be used to clear salary arrears for intern nurses and clinical officers, while Sh110 million was set aside for the November salaries of the two groups. Another Sh326 million was designated to pay the arrears for intern medical officers, dental officers, and pharmacists. She emphasized that the full payment would ensure that all posted interns received their dues without further delays, signaling the ministry’s commitment to improving working conditions and the quality of health services in Kenya.
However, the intern doctors expressed discontent with the ministry’s claims, accusing the CS of insincerity. “What they sent was for one month, we are still demanding salaries for three months,” one of the protest leaders said. The interns refuted Barasa’s statement, arguing that the payment only covered one month of the arrears, leaving three months still outstanding. They also criticized the ministry for its lack of transparency and failure to fulfill the 2017 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), which included agreed-upon salary scales for all health workers.
The protesting interns highlighted the dire circumstances they are facing, including the absence of health insurance, food, and adequate shelter. “We are here to tell Kenyans that we doctors are suffering,” said a spokesperson for the group. The interns also revealed that the delays in salary payments have caused immense stress, with two interns reportedly succumbing to mental health issues as a result of the ongoing frustrations.
The issue of unpaid salaries has become a pressing concern within Kenya’s healthcare system. The internship process, which is crucial for the professional development of young doctors, nurses, and other health workers, is facing serious challenges. The lack of prompt payments and basic support for the interns threatens to destabilize the entire system, which could ultimately affect the quality of healthcare in the country.
Furthermore, the protesting interns are demanding that the Ministry of Health immediately implement the salary scales agreed upon in the 2017 CBA, which they claim the government has continuously failed to honor. The ongoing delays and unfulfilled promises have contributed to a growing sense of despair and disillusionment among young healthcare professionals.
The interns’ protest is a stark reminder of the larger challenges faced by healthcare workers in Kenya, particularly those at the entry-level who are often left vulnerable to financial instability and mental health struggles. As the government continues to release partial payments, the interns are determined to push for the full settlement of their dues and for the long-overdue implementation of their agreed-upon salary scales.
This situation calls for urgent attention from both the government and the Ministry of Health to ensure that healthcare workers are treated with the dignity and respect they deserve. The health sector’s future depends on the well-being of its workers, and without swift action, the crisis facing intern doctors may continue to worsen, putting the entire healthcare system at risk.
