Kiambu doctors down tools as strike begins over pay, promotions and health insurance woes

Patients seeking medical care at public hospitals in Kiambu County from Tuesday will face major disruptions as doctors officially begin their strike.

An attempt by the Kiambu County government to stop the strike through a court order on Tuesday morning failed, prompting the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) to confirm that its members would proceed with the boycott.

Dr Abidan Mwachi, the KMPDU National Chairman, while flanked by Dr James Githinji and Dr Bill Muriuki, said doctors have downed tools to protest against various injustices done to them by the leadership of the county.

"We are here to announce that the doctors' strike in Kiambu County is ongoing because the leadership of the county is not interested in resolving matters brought before them," said Mwachi.

Unresolved grievances

Mwachi listed several grievances that have remained unresolved, like salary increment, delayed promotions and unprocedural dismissal as some of the grave matters outstanding in the industrial dispute.

"It's sad that Kiambu County is leading in the highest number of doctors resigning from work out of frustration. It is also the county with the highest number of doctors who cannot raise and pay their medical bills because of a dysfunctional health insurance scheme," explained Mwachi.

Githinji and Muriuki said they have no option but to ask patients who are in wards but not critically ill to be discharged.

"We want to ask those who have patients in the public health facilities to have them discharged," said Muriuki.

Critically ill patients

Officials of KMPDU from Central Kenya said they've, however, made arrangements for the most critically ill patients to be attended to and referred to hospitals located in neighbouring counties.

The strike was to begin on May 26, 2025, after the medics cited the county government's failure to address their grievances or engage in dialogue.

In a statement issued by the KMPDU Secretary-General Davji Bhimji Atellah, the union accused the county government of ignoring repeated calls for engagement.

"For 21 days, we waited. We gave notice. We spoke clearly. But Kiambu County responded with silence—no meeting, no dialogue, no intention to resolve the crisis they've created," said Atellah.

This is not just negligence; it's contempt—for doctors, for healthcare workers, and for the people of Kiambu," added Atellah.

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• Health
• KMPDU
• Doctors' Strike
• Kiambu County
• public hospitals
• Kiambu doctors
• Kiambu County government
• doctors' pay
• Kiambu doctors down tools as strike begins over pay
• promotions and health insurance woes

Start discharging patients

The KMPDU boss has since directed the union's members to begin discharging and referring patients ahead of the planned industrial action.

"We call on all our members to begin discharging and referring patients. The time for waiting is over. The time for action is now," he stated.

Atellah emphasised that the strike is aimed at restoring dignity and securing the future of healthcare in the county.

"This is not just a strike—it is a reclaiming of our dignity, our rights, and the future of healthcare in this county. We will not negotiate through silence. We will not accept being treated as expendable," said the doctors' union chief.

The union further called on the public to support the strike, saying the current state of healthcare affects everyone.

"To the people of Kiambu, this fight is for you too. A healthcare system that disrespects its doctors is a system that fails its people. Stand with us, as we have always stood with you," stated Atellah.