Duale Moves To Restrict Foreign Doctors, Cites Jobless Kenyan Medics
Health Updated: 07 January 2026 23:53 EAT
Health cabinet secretary Aden Duale
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has announced plans to restrict the licensing of foreign doctors in Kenya, allowing only practitioners from the East African Community (EAC) and highly specialised experts whose skills are unavailable locally.
Duale said the move is aimed at protecting job opportunities for Kenyan medics, noting that many locally trained doctors remain unemployed despite heavy public investment in their education.
He stated that going forward, licence renewals for most foreign doctors, dentists and general practitioners will be halted, except where there is a clear skills gap in the country.
The CS explained that Kenya has sufficient numbers of general practitioners and that priority must be given to absorbing unemployed Kenyan doctors into the health system.
Duale clarified that specialists from EAC member states may still be considered in line with regional integration agreements and mutual recognition frameworks.
He said the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC) has been directed to strictly enforce the new policy during the annual licence renewal process.
The Health CS revealed that since the start of the renewal period, hundreds of applications by foreign doctors have already been rejected under the new directive.
Duale defended the decision, arguing that it is unfair for foreign practitioners to take up jobs while qualified Kenyan medics remain without employment.
At the same time, the CS reiterated the government’s commitment to absorb health workers hired under the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) programme.
He said a verification exercise had been conducted to remove ghost workers and ensure only genuine UHC staff are considered for absorption.
Duale acknowledged funding constraints but pledged to work with Parliament and county governments to secure resources for the gradual absorption of UHC workers into the public service.
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FELIX MAKONA
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