The government, through the Ministry of Health, has officially announced that the placement of medical interns will begin on July 1, 2025, marking a significant step in addressing the backlog of pre-internship graduates awaiting deployment.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Ministry detailed that the assignment of interns will be conducted via a balloting exercise, scheduled for Wednesday, April 30, 2025. This process will be overseen by the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC), the regulatory body responsible for ensuring standards in medical training and practice.
The Ministry emphasized that the balloting system is intended to streamline the placement process and promote fairness, efficiency, and transparency in the allocation of internship positions across accredited health facilities in the country.
“The Ministry of Health will post the next cohort of medical interns with effect from 1st July 2025. To facilitate a smooth posting process, the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC) will conduct balloting for pre-intern graduates on Wednesday, 30th April 2025,” read the official statement.
The list generated from this exercise will serve as the definitive guide for the distribution of interns to various internship centers, ensuring an organized and equitable rollout.
This announcement comes amid growing pressure from recent medical graduates seeking timely deployment to complete their mandatory internship period, which is essential for full licensure and practice in Kenya’s healthcare system
The Ministry of Health has confirmed that medical interns will begin receiving details of their assigned internship locations starting May 2, 2025, following the completion of the online balloting process scheduled for April 30, 2025. The balloting, conducted by the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC), is intended to ensure a fair and efficient allocation of positions across internship centers nationwide.
According to the ministry, interns will access their individual posting outcomes immediately after the online exercise, while the official placement list will be submitted to the ministry by Friday, May 2. This process is part of a broader effort by the government to support the professional development of healthcare workers and enhance service delivery within the public health system.
“The Ministry remains committed to the growth of our health workforce and the continued improvement of healthcare services countrywide,” the statement read.
This update follows recent protests by healthcare workers in Nairobi, who marched through the capital demanding fair treatment, job security, and the timely posting of medical interns. The demonstration—led by the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU)—saw doctors deliver a petition to the Social Health Authority, the Ministry of Health, and Parliament, warning of a possible nationwide strike if intern salaries were slashed.
The situation de-escalated after a meeting on April 10 between union leaders and newly-appointed Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale, during which Duale pledged to resolve the issues of pay arrears and internship deployment within two weeks.
“We expect this matter to be resolved within two weeks,” said KMPDU Secretary General Dr. Davji Atellah at the time.