The Ministry of Health has clarified that intern doctors will earn much more than the basic salary that appears on their posting letters.
According to the Ministry, the letters show a basic monthly salary of Ksh 46,120. However, once allowances under CSG 9 / Job Group L are added, the total monthly pay comes to about Ksh 208,000.
The Ministry highlighted that allowances make up the bulk of the pay range from Ksh 180,000 to Ksh 208,000, depending on where one is posted.
This means the medical officer interns will receive Ksh 46,120 as basic pay, plus allowances, boosting the total monthly income to about Ksh 208,000.
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale, on Monday, however, clarified that not all interns will get Ksh 208,000.
"They will earn everything. That's why I came here to ensure there will be no more industrial health workers' disputes in Kenya for the success of universal health coverage," Duale said.
The Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Union Deputy Secretary General, Dennis Miskellah, said that the figure is not a flat rate.
"This figure is not a flat rate. Based on the location where you are working, you will be paid appropriately. It follows the civic servants' pay grade, which includes the basic salary and other allowances," Miskellah said.
The allowances mentioned include location-specific housing allowance, hardship allowance, universal commuters allowance, emergency call allowance, and overtime payments.
The ministry added that some intern doctors may receive non-practice allowances if not engaged in clinical activities.
On June 27, Duale announced that under the 2025/2026 Internship cohort, the Ministry of Health is posting over 6000 medical interns.
Out of the 6,484 interns, 1,147 are set to be medical officer interns, with a further 87 deployed in the field of dentistry. Another 500 were posted as pharmacy interns, and 659 landed positions as Bsc Clinical Officers.
