PS Oluga explains how govt ended medical interns’ stalemate
Ouma Oluga, Principal Secretary, State Department for Medical Services, has explained how the government resolved the long-running stalemate over the deployment of medical interns. While speaking during an interview with a local media station on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, Oluga said the government allocated Ksh9.8 billion in the budget for medical interns, describing the funding […]
Ouma Oluga, Principal Secretary of the State Department for Medical Services, explained how the government resolved the ongoing dispute over medical intern placements. Speaking to a local news outlet on September 2, 2026, Oluga announced a budget allocation of Ksh9.8 billion for medical interns, which he deemed crucial to resolving the impasse.
He emphasized the need for a structured system to manage the number of interns entering the program, initiated through collaborations with universities under the guidance of the health and education secretaries. Oluga clarified that this marked the first time the government had budgeted specifically for interns, in contrast to the previous disorganized approach.
Universities are now tasked with predicting the number of graduates over a three-year span, enabling better financial planning through the National Treasury. This innovative strategy aimed to avoid situations where graduates leave without guaranteed internship placements. Under this new system, the number of medical interns has risen to around 7,000, up from approximately 6,300 the previous year.
Oluga also acknowledged broader health sector initiatives, such as the recruitment of nearly 18,000 healthcare workers, though he noted additional staffing was required. Similar sentiments were echoed by Davji Atellah, Secretary General of the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU), who praised President William Ruto and Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale for their efforts.
Atellah, referring to Duale as "Mr. Fix It," highlighted the resolution of longstanding issues concerning intern deployment and payment. Interns had previously staged protests at Afya House, demanding timely placements and fair compensation in line with their Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). Atellah commended Duale for ensuring interns were deployed and paid as agreed at the start of each financial year, finally ending a problem that had plagued Kenya’s health sector for years.
Written by urgent.news from People Daily Kenya's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.