KMPDU Issues 14-Day Nationwide Strike Notice, Vows to Down Tools Over Salary Arrears: “We’re Owed”
- Kenya’s doctors have issued a 14-day strike notice, warning of a full shutdown of public hospitals over unpaid dues
- KMPDU accused both national and county governments of contempt, citing ignored court-backed salary deals and broken promises
- Treasury and key ministries were faulted for withholding arrears and failing to honour a December pact mandating July 2025 adjustments
- Frustration spiked after July payslips showed no salary changes, with doctors under the Health and Labour ministries left completely unpaid
Education is Your Right! Don’t Let Social Norms Hold You Back. Learn Online with TUKO. Enroll Now!
Didacus Malowa, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.
Kenya’s public healthcare system faces a looming shutdown after the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) issued a 14-day nationwide strike notice over delayed salary arrears and unmet government obligations.
Source: Facebook
In a strongly-worded letter addressed to top national and county officials, KMPDU secretary general Davji Bhimji Atellah accused both levels of government of failing to honour multiple commitments signed under the 2017–2021 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) and its subsequent Return to Work Formulas (RTWFs).
Read also
William Ruto orders release of boda boda motorcycles impounded by police across the country
The union cited delayed salary adjustments, non-payment of arrears, and what it termed deliberate contempt of court-adopted agreements by the state.
Search option is now available at TUKO! Feel free to search the content on topics/people you enjoy reading about in the top right corner ;)
Unless all grievances are addressed within two weeks, KMPDU warned that its members will down their tools indefinitely.
Atellah said in the letter, warning of nationwide paralysis in public hospitals if action is not taken swiftly.
"Take notice that unless the issues herein are resolved within fourteen (14) days of the date hereof, the highest decision-making organ of the Union will convene to determine the way forward, including but not limited to calling for an industrial action until the issues are resolved and contempt of court proceedings against all relevant accounting officers," Atellah declared.
Why are doctors going on strike?
The union wrote to six top government offices: Head of Public Service Felix Koskei, Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale, Treasury CS John Mbadi, Public Service CS Geoffrey Ruku, Labour CS Alfred Mutua, and the Council of Governors.
KMPDU accused the National Treasury of failing to release conditional grants and arrears as agreed in May and December 2024, despite the pacts signed and formally adopted by the courts.
It also raised alarm over omissions in the County Government Additional Allocation Act, 2025 and Supplementary Budget III, which left out arrears due for the 2024/2025 financial year.
The December 2024 addendum had set July 2025 as the deadline for implementing salary adjustments.
However, KMPDU revealed that payslips issued at the end of the month showed no such changes, fuelling frustrations among medical personnel.
Source: Twitter
The union said doctors working under the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Labour have also not received any portion of their arrears, in breach of the December pact.
"The salary adjustment was not effected in the payslips by July 2025 as agreed in the addendum. In addition, the doctors under Ministry of Health and Ministry of Labour have not received any batch of the arrears," Atellah added.
How did medical interns secure KSh 206k pay?
In a related story previously covered by TUKO.co.ke, medical interns paid tribute to Atellah during the KMPDU Annual Delegates Conference in Mombasa, praising his steadfast leadership during the 56-day doctors' strike.
They credited him for pushing back against a government offer of KSh 70,000, insisting instead on the KSh 206,000 monthly stipend promised in the 2017 CBA.
In a show of gratitude, the interns presented Atellah with a symbolic gift for his resilience.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
