Congolese Doctors Sue Kenyan Government Over License Non-Renewal
NAIROBI, Kenya – More than twenty Congolese doctors practicing in Kenya have filed a lawsuit against the government after their medical licenses and work permits were not renewed. The legal action names the Ministry of Health and the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC), accusing them of acting without prior notice or justification.
The affected physicians, many of whom have served in Kenyan hospitals for over ten years, argue that the sudden refusal to renew their documents is unlawful and discriminatory. Their case hinges on the East African Community (EAC) Treaty, which promotes the free movement of workers among member states. The Democratic Republic of Congo was admitted to the bloc in 2022, a fact the doctors contend should legally protect their right to practice in Kenya.
“This action violates the spirit and the letter of the EAC integration,” stated a representative for the doctors, who are currently unable to work. “We have built our lives and careers here, serving Kenyan patients, and now we are being dismissed without due process.”
However, government proponents and some health sector officials defend the policy shift. They argue it addresses two critical issues: the alleged exploitation of foreign doctors by some private hospitals, where they are said to earn significantly less than their Kenyan counterparts, and the need to prioritise employment for thousands of unemployed locally-trained doctors.
“The aim is to audit the sector and ensure fairness,” explained a source within the health administration, who spoke on condition of anonymity. “We must protect our Kenyan professionals while also ensuring all doctors, regardless of origin, are working under proper and equitable terms.”
The case has sparked a heated debate about labour mobility, national protectionism, and the practical implementation of regional integration treaties within the EAC. It also highlights the chronic tension in Kenya’s health sector between addressing domestic unemployment and relying on skilled foreign professionals to fill gaps in the system.
The matter is now before the courts, with the Congolese doctors seeking an urgent injunction to have their licenses reinstated as the substantive case proceeds.
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