Duale Sets New Rules on Licensing Foreign Doctors: What It Means

The government has announced new measures to tighten the licensing of foreign doctors in Kenya, with Health Cabinet Secretary (CS) Aden Duale saying priority will now be given to qualified Kenyan health professionals.

In a statement dated January 7, 2026, Duale said Kenya will prioritise the licensing and deployment of locally trained doctors, nurses, clinical officers, and specialists before considering routine licensing of foreign health practitioners.

“The Government has invested substantial public resources, drawn from Kenyan taxpayers, into training health professionals at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. It is therefore prudent and just that Kenyans trained using public resources are given first priority,” the statement read.

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The Health CS noted that the position is firmly grounded in international best practice, with global bodies such as the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) consistently affirming the principle that countries should prioritise employment opportunities for their own qualified health workforce as part of national workforce planning, sustainability, and health system resilience.

He stated that no country worldwide has developed a sustainable health system with a foreign health workforce.

However, the policy does not apply to health practitioners from East African Community (EAC) member states.

Duale said Kenya will continue to honour reciprocal recognition agreements within the EAC, allowing mutual recognition of qualifications and regulated professional mobility across the region.

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EAC Doctors to be Spared From the Policy

Outside the EAC, the Ministry of Health will review applications from foreign doctors on a case-by-case basis, guided strictly by national interest.

According to the statement, licences will only be granted where there is a clear skills gap, particularly in highly specialised or emerging fields where local capacity is unavailable or inadequate.

Duale said such engagements must also support knowledge transfer and strengthen Kenya’s health system.

At the same time, the Health CS defended the government’s position, saying the approach is neither isolationist nor unique to Kenya, noting that many countries, including high-income nations, apply similar policies while allowing limited and regulated entry of foreign practitioners in exceptional cases.

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The Ministry also raised concerns over patient safety, saying it has observed cases where individuals seek registration in Kenya despite lacking proper recognition, licensure, or good standing in their countries of origin.

“As the custodian of Kenya’s health security, the Ministry will continue to work through statutory regulatory bodies to ensure licensing decisions uphold patient safety, professional integrity, and national workforce sustainability,” the statement said.

Duale emphasised that Kenya’s position remains clear and lawful, insisting that qualified Kenyans will come first, regional commitments will be respected, and foreign practitioners will only be allowed where they add clear value and meet the highest ethical and professional standards.

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Health CS Aden Duale at past event. PHOTO/MoH