KMPDU Issues 30-Day Ultimatum Over Internship Wage Dispute, Threatens Nationwide Protests

The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) has issued a 30-day ultimatum to the government to resolve the ongoing crisis over internship wages, or face nationwide protests set to begin on March 18, 2025. The union is demanding that the government uphold the agreed-upon wages for intern doctors as per the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) and reject any proposed wage reductions.

KMPDU Secretary General, Dr. Davji Atellah, firmly stated that the union would not entertain any discussions involving salary cuts, highlighting that their primary objective is to maximize doctors’ salaries. He accused the government of dishonesty and vowed to take all necessary actions, including strikes, to ensure the CBA is honored.

Dr. Atellah also instructed doctors across the country to prepare for action and announced that meetings with health stakeholders will take place next week to address the matter. He emphasized that the issue is not about posting interns, but about ensuring they receive fair wages, warning that failure to resolve the dispute will lead to large-scale protests.

The KMPDU Secretary General criticized remarks made by Health Cabinet Secretary Dr. Deborah Barasa, who, during the Health Summit 2025 held on Monday at the Deputy President’s official residence in Karen, claimed that new intern doctors would be paid a monthly salary of Ksh.70,000. This is a significant reduction from the Ksh.206,000 salary stipulated in the 2017 CBA, which was agreed upon to end a strike last December.

“The minister was saying that they can’t afford to pay interns this year because of the USAID freeze imposed by former U.S. President Donald Trump. If Trump is putting the U.S. first, the government needs to put Kenyans first,” Dr. Atellah said.

He further insisted that if wage reductions are to be implemented, they should apply to all public servants, starting with the presidency and ministers, rather than targeting intern doctors.

“If the wages are to be reduced or changed, it should not start with intern doctors; it should be for all, and should start with the presidency and the ministers,” he added.

KMPDU’s ultimatum has placed the government under significant pressure to address the concerns of intern doctors, with the looming threat of mass protests in March unless a resolution is reached. The union remains steadfast in its demands for fair compensation and will continue to hold discussions to ensure that the 2017 CBA is upheld.

February 21, 2025