By Dorothy Musyoka
The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) has supported the directives issued by the Cabinet Secretary for Health, Hon. Aden Duale, on the licensing and employment of foreign health practitioners in Kenya.
Read more:http://MOH Tightens Licensing Rules for Foreign Health Practitioners
In the statement released on January 8, 2026, KMPDU said the directive marks a decisive step toward restoring dignity, fairness, and ethical labour practices in the country’s medical profession.
The union noted that for many years, sections of the healthcare sector have treated medical professionals as disposable labour, prioritising profit over professional standards and human dignity.
“Today, we declare unequivocally, the era of treating doctors as cheap, disposable labour is over,” the statement read.
KMPDU highlighted that over the past four years, more than 3,000 foreign general practitioners have been licensed to work in Kenya.
While the union recognises the importance of international cooperation and skills exchange, it raised concern that many of these practitioners have been deliberately targeted by some private hospitals as a vulnerable workforce, subjected to unfair labour practices.
“KMPDU further calls out the flagrant abuse of Kenya’s immigration laws. Yet many private facilities have deliberately bypassed these safeguards focusing solely on licensing while ignoring lawful employment processes despite the existence of thousands of qualified Kenyan doctors who remain unemployed or grossly underutilise,” the statement read in part.
According to the union, these facilities have been paying wages far below the levels set by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) and agreed Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs).
KMPDU described this practice as institutionalised exploitation, warning that it violates international labour standards, including International Labour Organization (ILO) Conventions C100 and C97, which guarantee equal pay for work of equal value and equal treatment of skilled workers across borders.
KMPDU reaffirmed its position that the era of treating doctors as cheap and expendable labour must come to an end.
The union pledged to continue advocating for fair remuneration, ethical employment practices, and the protection of both local and foreign health professionals working in Kenya, in line with the law and international standards.