More than 800 medical laboratory technicians and technologists are demanding accountability from Kenya’s health authorities after a professional licensing examination was indefinitely postponed, leaving candidates in professional limbo for months with no refund of fees already paid.
The Kenya Medical Laboratory Technicians and Technologists Board exam, originally scheduled for November, was canceled without commitment on when it will take place or what will happen to examination fees collected from candidates. The examination is a crucial requirement for medical laboratory professionals seeking to practice legally in Kenya’s healthcare system.
Mounting Frustration Over Silence
The board issued a brief response after receiving initial complaints but has remained silent since, according to correspondence reviewed by The Associated Press. Candidates say the lack of communication has created uncertainty about their professional futures and career advancement opportunities.
“Several months have now elapsed since the scheduled examination date,” the candidates wrote in their latest appeal shared with media outlets and oversight bodies. They cite “demonstrable professional stagnation, financial strain and psychological distress” resulting from the delays.
Many candidates had prepared extensively for the examination, investing time and resources in study materials. The sudden cancellation has left them unable to secure employment in hospitals and diagnostic laboratories that require current licensing credentials.
Administrative Delays Blamed
The board attributed the postponement to administrative delays in its official gazettement — a formal publication required under Kenyan law for government bodies to operate. However, candidates say they have received no timeline for when that process will be completed or when the Ministry of Health might intervene.
Candidates are seeking three specific commitments: an official update from the Ministry of Health on the board’s gazettement status, a binding date for the rescheduled examination and clarification on whether examination fees will be refunded if delays continue.
Legal Action Threatened
“The continued attribution of delays to the absence of a gazetted board, without accompanying timelines or formal updates from the Ministry of Health, is no longer sufficient,” the candidates wrote.
The group warned that without a substantive response, they will pursue redress through oversight institutions and legal channels available under Kenyan law.
Neither the Kenya Medical Laboratory Technicians and Technologists Board nor the Ministry of Health immediately responded to requests for comment.
