Health Cabinet Secretary Hon. Aden Duale on Monday officially commissioned the deployment of 6,484 healthcare interns across the country under the 2025/2026 internship programme.
Speaking at Afya House in Nairobi, Duale described the move as a cornerstone of the government’s efforts to operationalise Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and strengthen service delivery at all levels.
“These young professionals are not just numbers; they are future caregivers,” Duale said. “Every patient they encounter represents a life, a story, and a trust placed in their hands. I expect them to serve with discipline, humility, and professionalism.”
The interns—drawn from medical, nursing, pharmacy, clinical medicine, and laboratory science backgrounds—will be placed in accredited health facilities for a 12-month structured clinical training programme. The CS said the placements meet global standards and will bridge the human resource gaps in public health institutions, especially in underserved regions.
Duale also reaffirmed the Kenya Kwanza administration’s resolve to keep health at the centre of its Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA). “A healthcare system is only as strong as its workforce. That’s why we are investing deliberately in a professional corps that is not only technically qualified but also guided by compassion, ethics, and accountability,” he said.
The Health Ministry, he added, remains committed to timely deployment, transparent placement processes, and long-term workforce planning in partnership with professional bodies.
Accompanying the CS were key health stakeholders, including Principal Secretary for Public Health and Professional Standards Ms. Mary Muthoni, Director General for Health Dr. Patrick Amoth, KMPDU Secretary General Dr. Davji Atellah, KNUN Secretary General Hon. Seth Panyako, and KUCO CEO George Gibore. Their presence signalled a rare show of unity in a sector often mired in disputes over deployment, working conditions, and remuneration.
The latest cohort comes at a time when Kenya is accelerating health sector reforms, with the rollout of the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF), digital health platforms, and community health initiatives forming part of the broader strategy to achieve affordable and equitable care.
Duale urged the interns to uphold professionalism, saying they are not just learners, but ambassadors of trust in a system under transformation.
