Nursing officer interns working in public hospitals are still waiting for their July 2026 stipends, the Kenya National Union of Nurses and Midwives (KNUNM) says, and the union has asked Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale to release the money without further delay.

In a letter dated 21 October 2026 and addressed to the CS at Afya House, union Secretary General Seth Panyako said the late payment had caused financial hardship to the affected interns. The letter was made public on Thursday.

What the union is asking for

Under the subject "Internship Programme and July Stipend Arrears", Mr Panyako thanked the Ministry of Health for its work in strengthening the nursing internship programme and improving the welfare of interns, before raising the unpaid stipends.

"I therefore request the payment of the outstanding stipends, to enable them to continue with their program uninterrupted," he wrote.

The union stressed that nursing interns carry a heavy share of frontline work in public health facilities across the country. It warned that the delay was threatening both their livelihoods and the continuity of the internship programme, and urged the ministry to speed up the payments.

Mr Panyako said the union looked forward to the ministry's continued support and "cordial working relations".

The ministry had not publicly responded to the letter by Thursday afternoon.

A long-running sore point

Delayed and reduced pay for interns has been a recurring source of friction in Kenya's health sector. Doctors, nurses, pharmacists and clinical officers have in recent years protested against late postings, unpaid stipends and pay cuts linked to the Salaries and Remuneration Commission's review of intern allowances.

  • In September 2026, Medical Services Principal Secretary Ouma Oluga said the government had for the first time set aside Sh9.8 billion in the budget for all interns, describing it as a key step towards ending the problems.
  • The ministry has also asked universities to project how many students will graduate over three years to improve planning for internship posts and pay.
  • The doctors' union, KMPDU, has acknowledged some progress on the deployment and payment of medical interns.

Why it matters

Interns are a vital part of the workforce in many county and national hospitals, where staff shortages are common. Health unions warn that long delays in pay push young professionals into debt, lower morale and can lead to work boycotts that disrupt services for patients.

The union's appeal comes at a busy time for the ministry, which is also handling the national response to the Ebola outbreak.

Photos: Uzalendo News (Health CS Aden Duale); People Daily/Seth Panyako Facebook (KNUNM Secretary General Seth Panyako). Thumbnail design: HAMASTA MEDIA.