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MoH to post interns by July 1, as govt pledges to settle all pending bills
Universal Health Coverage (UHC) workers display a copy of the Daily Nation newspaper while protesting outside Parliament Buildings in Nairobi on May 21, 2025.
What you need to know:
- Health CS Duale said the government has pledged to address the longstanding concerns that have plagued the health sector.
- Treasury CS John Mbadi announced Sh6.2 billion for UHC program management and coordination during the budget reading.
The government has committed to settling all pending arrears owed to healthcare professionals and to fully implementing return-to-work agreements previously signed with striking medical workers.
At the same time, the government has resolved the internship issue and will post the medical interns on July 1.
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale said the government has availed the necessary resources and pledged to address the longstanding concerns that have plagued the health sector.
“I want to assure you that Universal Health Coverage (UHC) who were in the streets, we will deal with their matter. Now we have resources. Before we deal with them, we are going to do an audit of how many of those UHC workers are working with us,” Duale said.
“For the success of the UHC, healthcare worker is a very strong pillar from where I sit and that’s why I want to resolve all outstanding issues,” he added.
The UHC workers had waged an 18-week nationwide strike demanding permanent employment. The 8,571 medics had been deployed to Covid-19 frontline five years ago.
Despite Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi announcing Sh6.2 billion for UHC program management and coordination during Thursday's budget reading, they had been dealt a fresh blow after the government postponed allocation for their benefits to the next financial year.
They will only receive Sh1.1 billion in the 2025/2026 budget out of the Sh4.2 billion they had requested to hire them on permanent and pensionable terms.
He was speaking on Sunday at the Nairobi Hospital during the Memorandum of Understanding signing with the Social Health Authority (SHA) and the Nairobi Hospital where he said the government had “made a very deliberate allocation of resources to settle all pending arrears owed to health care professionals.”
The facility also unveiled a state-of-the-art, AI-powered CT scanner as part of its commitment to transforming diagnostic care and advancing the fight against non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Kenya.
To mark this milestone and enhance access to diagnostic services, the hospital said it will offer a 10 per cent discount on all CT scan services for one month from June 15.
The chairman of The Nairobi Hospital Board Dr Barcley Onyambu, said the investment reflects the institution’s deep commitment to innovation and patient-centered care.
“More than a technological upgrade, this is a reaffirmation of our purpose: to lead with compassion and excellence, It is also a symbol of what is possible when African institutions are bold in vision and unwavering in quality,” Dr Onyambu said.
“This scanner enables us to act more quickly, reduce waiting times, and improve accuracy - whether for a child needing answers, a trauma patient needing urgent care, or an elderly patient needing clarity,” the Nairobi Hospital CEO Felix Osano said.
“We are building a future where Kenyan patients no longer need to travel for quality care. And by easing access through this discount, we are ensuring that cost is not a barrier to life-saving diagnostics,” Mr Osano said.
