NAIROBI, Kenya – Kenya’s Ministry of Health has announced reduced stipends for new nursing and clinical officer interns, following a court ruling.
The adjustment affects Bachelor’s degree nursing and clinical officer interns, as well as clinical officer diploma holders, aligning their allowances with those outlined by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) in March.
According to Public Health Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni, stipends for medical interns—including doctors, dentists, and pharmacists—remain pending further negotiations as per the court directive.
In a letter to Public Service Principal Secretary Amos Gathecha, Muthoni confirmed the revised payment structure, stating, “On account of the judgment, we are proceeding now to pay BSc Nursing, BSc Clinical Officers, and Clinical Officers (Diploma) interns as per the SRC circular. The rest of the interns represented by the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) will await negotiations as directed by the court.”
The revised rates, set by SRC, grant clinical officer diploma interns between KSh 27,000 and KSh 35,000, while degree clinical officer interns receive between KSh 35,000 and KSh 50,000.
Nursing interns are also slated for KSh 35,000 to KSh 50,000, while dental officer and pharmacist interns can expect higher payments, ranging from KSh 47,000 to KSh 70,000.
The Ministry’s announcement has met resistance from the Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN), which advocates for higher intern compensation.
KNUN Secretary General Seth Panyako recently pressed Health Cabinet Secretary Deborah Barasa to consider a minimum stipend of KSh 74,000 for each nursing intern post-deductions.
“While we understand this is a temporary solution, we urge continued engagement to secure fair intern compensation until a long-term solution is found,” said Panyako.
SRC Chairperson Lynn Mengich defended the stipends, which were revised downward in March, stating that affordability, sustainability, and fairness across categories were key considerations.
“The highest-paid intern in government currently receives KSh 25,000,” Mengich noted, adding that these adjustments reflect the entry-level compensation for interns and are not a reduction from any previously established pay.
Mengich clarified that interns currently on higher stipend packages are exempt from these adjustments, noting that the new rates apply only to newly posted interns.
“You can’t reduce what you don’t have,” she explained, addressing public perception of the adjustments. “We’ve set a fresh stipend for interns joining now, so the idea of a pay cut is incorrect because there’s no pre-existing baseline.”
The adjustment affects Bachelor’s degree nursing and clinical officer interns, as well as clinical officer diploma holders, aligning their allowances with those outlined by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) in March.
According to Public Health Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni, stipends for medical interns—including doctors, dentists, and pharmacists—remain pending further negotiations as per the court directive.
In a letter to Public Service Principal Secretary Amos Gathecha, Muthoni confirmed the revised payment structure, stating, “On account of the judgment, we are proceeding now to pay BSc Nursing, BSc Clinical Officers, and Clinical Officers (Diploma) interns as per the SRC circular. The rest of the interns represented by the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) will await negotiations as directed by the court.”
The revised rates, set by SRC, grant clinical officer diploma interns between KSh 27,000 and KSh 35,000, while degree clinical officer interns receive between KSh 35,000 and KSh 50,000.
Nursing interns are also slated for KSh 35,000 to KSh 50,000, while dental officer and pharmacist interns can expect higher payments, ranging from KSh 47,000 to KSh 70,000.
The Ministry’s announcement has met resistance from the Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN), which advocates for higher intern compensation.
KNUN Secretary General Seth Panyako recently pressed Health Cabinet Secretary Deborah Barasa to consider a minimum stipend of KSh 74,000 for each nursing intern post-deductions.
“While we understand this is a temporary solution, we urge continued engagement to secure fair intern compensation until a long-term solution is found,” said Panyako.
SRC Chairperson Lynn Mengich defended the stipends, which were revised downward in March, stating that affordability, sustainability, and fairness across categories were key considerations.
“The highest-paid intern in government currently receives KSh 25,000,” Mengich noted, adding that these adjustments reflect the entry-level compensation for interns and are not a reduction from any previously established pay.
Mengich clarified that interns currently on higher stipend packages are exempt from these adjustments, noting that the new rates apply only to newly posted interns.
“You can’t reduce what you don’t have,” she explained, addressing public perception of the adjustments. “We’ve set a fresh stipend for interns joining now, so the idea of a pay cut is incorrect because there’s no pre-existing baseline.”
