KMPDU announces salary breakthrough for interns and MoH staff after payroll delay

The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) announced on Friday, August 28, 2026, that thousands of medical interns and Ministry of Health employees will receive their delayed salaries next week. Dr. Davji Bhimji Atellah, KMPDU Secretary General and CEO, confirmed that the payroll would be executed on Saturday, with salary transfers starting immediately and all payments expected in employees' bank accounts by Wednesday next week at the latest.

The delay in salary processing was due to fewer than 300 interns returning the necessary documentation to the Ministry of Health by the close of the July payroll cycle, which prevented payments from being processed on schedule. After negotiations with the ministry, KMPDU confirmed that all interns and MoH staff salaries will be disbursed concurrently.

Atellah expressed gratitude to interns for their patience during the ongoing discussions with the ministry. A significant outcome of these negotiations is that interns will now be paid alongside Ministry of Health staff instead of through separate disbursement arrangements, which will help clear the overdue salaries for these employees over the coming days.

This development comes amid ongoing tensions over timely payment of intern salaries in Kenya's public health sector. Delays, unpaid arrears, and disagreements over the implementation of the doctors’ Collective Bargaining Agreement have strained relations between the government and healthcare workers. Previous delays have led to threats of industrial action by KMPDU and accusations from the union that the government has not honored commitments made to intern doctors and other health workers.