KMPDU hails ruling upholding April 2 elections, shifts focus to CBA implementation

KMPDU Secretary-General Dr Davji Atellah addresses a press conference at the union’s headquarters in Nairobi on January 8, 2026. (Photo: Justine Ondieki)

By Rachael Mutabasi
Saturday, June 20, 2026

KMPDU Secretary General Dr Davji Bhimji Atellah said the decision leaves no pending legal challenge against the leadership.

The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists' Union (KMPDU) has hailed a ruling by the Employment and Labour Relations Court striking out a petition challenging its April 2026 elections as a decisive victory that settles any dispute over its leadership.

In a statement, KMPDU said the court ruling of June 19, 2026, confirmed the legitimacy of its National Executive Committee (NEC) after dismissing the petition challenging the April 2 elections.

The court found that the case was statute-barred, meaning it could not be heard because too much time had passed for it to be filed, and also described it as legally unsustainable and fatally defective, according to the union.

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“This victory belongs to every single member of KMPDU. It is a declaration that the collective will of Kenyan medical practitioners, pharmacists, and dentists cannot be fractured by procedural technicalities or internal division,” said Atellah.

He added that the leadership is now fully focused on advancing the union’s reform agenda and addressing long-standing concerns affecting doctors countrywide.

KMPDU said it will prioritise the implementation of Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs), payment of salary arrears, implementation of Return-to-Work Formula agreements, and deployment of medical interns.

The Union also pledged to push for the settlement of postgraduate training fees and improvements in working conditions for health workers.

It further announced plans to intensify negotiations for the 2025–2029 CBA, under which it is seeking a 55 per cent salary increase for doctors.

KMPDU said it has already issued formal notices to the government on payroll adjustments, arrears payments and commencement of the new CBA talks, marking what it described as the beginning of a renewed phase of engagement on doctors’ welfare.