Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has sounded a stern warning to rogue medical institutions and foreign practitioners operating outside humanitarian grounds, unveiling sweeping reforms that could transform Kenya’s healthcare landscape.
Speaking at the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) Annual Delegates Conference in Mombasa, Duale announced a countrywide fresh vetting of all medical training colleges and a crackdown on foreign doctors without proper credentials.
“We cannot commercialize the training of doctors. The era of quantity over quality is over,” declared Duale to resounding applause from hundreds of medical professionals.
The CS expressed deep concern over the rapid and unregulated rise of medical colleges, many of which, he said, lack the capacity and facilities to offer quality training.
“We know of institutions licensed to admit 50 students but enrolling over 200. This reckless expansion compromises the integrity of our healthcare system,” Duale said.
The government will now inspect all medical colleges starting next week. Institutions found to have exceeded their approved capacity or lacking internship infrastructure will face immediate deregistration.
In one of the boldest declarations yet, Duale stated that only foreign doctors involved in humanitarian work will be permitted to practice in Kenya.
“We have foreign doctors working here whose licenses were revoked in their own countries. That ends now. Kenya has enough qualified doctors who are jobless. We must protect our own,” he said firmly.
The ministry will re-evaluate licenses of foreign doctors issued in previous years and deregister those not meeting the new, stricter criteria.
Duale acknowledged that the current system is broken marked by delayed postings, oversupply of interns from certain colleges, and inadequate supervision.
“This is about dignity and safety. It’s not just about producing doctors, it’s about producing competent, ethical professionals who can be trusted with lives,” said the CS.
Last week, 1,035 medical officer interns and 83 dental officer interns were placed in hospitals across the country.
An additional 503 pharmacy interns will begin rotations in July 2025.
To support further training, Duale announced that the ministry is sponsoring 93 doctors pursuing master’s programs at a cost of Sh142 million, with Sh73 million already disbursed for the first group.
“Any specialist in training who was left out can still be considered. We are not leaving anyone behind,” he assured.
He also revealed that the government has cleared Sh1.75 billion owed to medics under the Return to Work formula, with the balance set for payment in the next fiscal year.
In a move aimed at financial discipline and timely remittance, Duale said he will propose to Parliament and the President that all civil servants’ statutory deductions including for the Social Health Authority (SHA) be deducted directly by the Treasury.
“There is no Universal Health Coverage without doctors. It is a moral failure when those who save lives cannot access care themselves,” Duale added.
KMPDU Chairman Dr. Abidan Mwachi welcomed the CS’s reforms but warned that several counties are skating on thin ice.
“Counties like Kiambu, Trans Nzoia, Kisumu, Lamu, Kajiado, Laikipia, and Nakuru are facing unresolved issues salary arrears, unremitted deductions, and poor working conditions. Dialogue is on the table, but so is industrial action,” Mwachi cautioned.
