Crisis looms as doctors issue 14-day strike notice over unpaid arrears
Should the strike proceed, it threatens to shut down public hospitals, including Kenyatta National Hospital and Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, jeopardising healthcare access for millions of Kenyans.
Kenya’s public health sector is on the brink of another crisis after the doctors’ union issued a formal 14-day strike warning over the government’s failure to meet critical salary and funding commitments.
The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) accused the national and county governments of reneging on promises made in previously signed agreements, raising fears of disrupted services in hospitals nationwide.
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In a letter addressed to key government leaders, including Head of Public Service Felix Koskei, Cabinet Secretaries Aden Duale (Health), John Mbadi (Treasury), Geoffrey Ruku (Public Service), Alfred Mutua (Labour), and the Council of Governors, the union’s Secretary General Dr Davji Atellah highlighted persistent delays in releasing conditional grants to counties, slow salary adjustments, and unpaid arrears under the 2017–2021 Collective Bargaining Agreement and its addenda.
“The union is concerned that despite explicit agreement on the national government committing to provide conditional grants to the county governments… we do not see any action in this regard,” Atellah stated.
The union further pointed out that recent budget documents, the County Government Additional Allocation Act, 2025, and Supplementary Budget III did not include the necessary funds to implement the agreements, deepening worries among medical workers.
Adding to the concern, doctors working under the Ministries of Health and Labour have not received salary arrears owed to them, and July 2025 payslips failed to reflect promised salary increases from the December 2024 addendum.
The union described this as a breach of contract and an erosion of trust between healthcare workers and the government.
“Take notice that unless the issues herein are resolved within 14 days... the highest decision-making organ of the union will convene to determine the way forward, including but not limited to calling for industrial action,” Atellah warned in the letter.
The KMPDU also intends to pursue contempt of court charges against government officers responsible for implementing the agreement, accusing them of disregarding legally binding obligations.
Should the strike proceed, it threatens to shut down public hospitals, including Kenyatta National Hospital and Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, jeopardising healthcare access for millions of Kenyans.
The last strike, which ended on May 8, 2024, lasted 56 days and severely disrupted healthcare services.
This new threat risks undoing gains made since then and escalating tensions between the government and health professionals.
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