KEMSA board chair Irungu Nyakera tells medical interns to accept SRC rates

The Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) board chairperson Irungu Nyakera has advised medical interns to accept the proposal by the Salary and Remuneration Commission (SRC) to cut their salaries.

In a post on X on Monday, Nyakera opined that interns cannot earn more than doctors.

"Interns cannot earn 206k when some doctors are starting at 48k- let interns accept SRC rates of 70k, or thereabouts," he said.

"Health is devolved so every county should handle its doctors and localize their demands," he said.

The KEMSA boss stated that if the doctor's union is not representing their interests, another union can be formed.

"If the Union is not representing the interests of doctors, create a new union to genuinely negotiate for doctors. Pharmacists can have their own separately. It's a free world."

In a rebuttal, Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists, and Dentists Union(KMPDU) Deputy Secretary General Dennis Miskellah termed the KEMSA chair's remarks on X, as embarrassing, urging him to learn more on health matters. 

"Just because you were appointed in KEMSA does not mean that you have suddenly become an expert in Health Systems management," he replied in a post on X.

This follows a correspondence between the Ministry of Health and the Salary and Remuneration Commission (SRC) regarding the salary rates for medical interns.

According to letters, the SRC has proposed that the lowest earnings for a medical intern be Ksh 25,000 while the highest pay is Ksh 70,000.