KMPDU Announces Crackdown of Underpaying Hospitals Over Foreign Doctors
According to reports, there are over 1,600 foreign doctors working in the country, amid concerns over the absorption of Kenyan graduates from the medical field...
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The Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Union (KMPDU) has announced a nationwide crackdown on private hospitals underpaying doctors and improperly employing foreign doctors, describing the practice as "modern-day slavery." This move follows Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale's commitment to prioritize Kenyan health professionals for licensing and employment.
- KMPDU Secretary General Davji Atellah stated that over 3,000 foreign doctors have been licensed in Kenya in the last three years, often due to vulnerability rather than skill gaps.
- The union accuses some hospitals of paying doctors below rates set by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) and the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
- Health CS Duale affirmed that while Kenyan professionals will be prioritized, this directive will not apply to citizens of East African Community (EAC) member states, and foreign practitioners will be vetted for highly specialized fields where local expertise is insufficient.
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Government and KMPDU Announce Measures on Health Worker Employment and Strikes - January 2026
The Ministry of Health in Kenya has announced new directives, effective January 7, prioritizing Kenyan-trained health professionals for licensing and employment over foreign doctors. This policy aims to ensure that Kenyans educated with public funds serve their country first. Separately, the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Union (KMPDU) has announced a nationwide crackdown on private hospitals underpaying doctors, a practice it described as "modern-day slavery." Meanwhile, Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has issued new directives to striking clinical officers, demanding a fully inclusive Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) before he signs it to end their 16-day strike.
