Doctors play a critical role in Kenya’s healthcare system. They save lives, guide public health policy, and support universal health coverage. Their pay often attracts debate, strikes, and public attention.
In 2026, doctors’ salaries and allowances in Kenya reflect years of negotiations, court battles, and union pressure. Experience, specialization, and place of work still shape earnings.
Government agreements signed after long disputes continue to influence current pay structures. Insights from a Kenyatta National Hospital clinical officer also reveal why salaries differ widely.
This guide explains the latest figures, allowances, disparities, and union influence shaping doctors’ earnings today.
Doctors’ Salaries and Allowances in Kenya Overview in 2026
Doctors’ salaries and allowances in Kenya depend on job group, years of service, and work station. Public sector doctors earn fixed salaries guided by Collective Bargaining Agreements. Private sector doctors negotiate individual contracts.
In May 2024, the national government reached a fresh agreement with the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists, and Dentists Union. The deal reinforced terms agreed upon after the 2017 strike. It introduced higher pay ceilings and committed funds to clear long-standing arrears.
A Kenyatta National Hospital clinical officer told TUKO.co.ke that doctors working in large urban hospitals earn more than those in rural facilities. He linked pay differences to education level, experience, specialisation, and facility capacity.
Doctors’ salaries in Kenya per month in 2026
Confirmed government salary structures now guide doctors’ pay across public facilities. Entry-level doctors at national referral hospitals earn up to KES 413,785 per month. Doctors posted to lower-level public facilities earn about KES 206,000 per month.
Senior consultants and top specialists earn the highest amounts. The best-paid senior-level doctor earns up to KES 1.4 million per month under the latest SRC and KMPDU agreement.
Intern doctors’ pay remains a sensitive issue. The government and unions continue discussions on intern remuneration. Clinical officers also await a separate negotiated deal with the Ministry of Health.
Private sector salaries vary widely. Hospitals like Aga Khan University Hospital pay general surgeons between KES 694,000 and KES 800,000 per month. The Nairobi Hospital pays senior surgeons close to KES 1 million per month. These figures depend on rank and workload.
Doctors’ allowances in Kenya and what they include
Allowances form a major part of doctors’ earnings. Doctors’ salaries and allowances in Kenya include several payments designed to compensate for risk, workload, and working conditions.
Doctors receive emergency call allowance for night duty and on-call services. They receive health risk allowance due to exposure to infectious diseases. Non-practice allowance compensates doctors who work exclusively in public service.
Other benefits include commuter allowance, housing allowance, extraneous allowance, and annual leave allowance. Nurses also receive a uniform allowance.
The 2017 agreement with county governments expanded these allowances. Counties continue to implement them at different levels, leading to uneven pay outcomes across regions.
In 2024, the national government committed KES 3.5 billion to clear salary arrears backdated to 2017. It also pledged to hire 2,000 more doctors to strengthen universal health coverage.
Disparities and the role of doctors’ unions
Doctors’ salaries and allowances in Kenya differ sharply between urban and rural postings. Urban hospitals offer better equipment, higher patient volumes, and exposure to specialized care. Rural hospitals struggle with staffing, infrastructure, and isolation.
To attract doctors to underserved areas, some counties offer hardship allowances and additional incentives. Cost of living also affects take-home pay, especially in major cities.
Doctors’ unions remain central to pay growth. KMPDU has led multiple strikes that forced government negotiations. Through collective bargaining, unions secured salary increments, allowances, and clearer promotion paths.
In December 2024, the government reached a deal with KMPDU to stop a nationwide strike. The agreement addressed intern salaries and unpaid arrears. Union leaders continue to push for full implementation across all counties.
Salary increments for employed doctors now follow Collective Bargaining Agreements. These agreements consider tenure, added qualifications, and economic conditions. Without union pressure, many of these gains would not exist.
Final Thoughts
Doctors’ salaries and allowances in Kenya continue to evolve through negotiation and reform. Experience, employer, and specialization shape earnings more than any single factor. While disparities remain, recent agreements improved pay and cleared long-standing arrears.
Doctors remain among the best-paid professionals in Kenya, reflecting the value and risk of their work.
