Major Win for KMPDU, Healthcare Workers as Kwale County Promotes 67 Doctors: "We Are Proud"
- Kwale County promoted 67 of 68 eligible doctors, fulfilling the Return-to-Work Formula agreement after a two-week strike by medical workers
- The promotions covered job groups from Senior Medical Officers to Chief Specialist, signalling broad professional upgrades
- KMPDU praised Kwale’s leadership for meeting the deadline and issuing promotion letters within three weeks
- The union said the move boosts morale and urged other counties to respect healthcare workers to protect health systems
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Didacus Malowa, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.
Kwale County has promoted 67 of the 68 eligible doctors, fulfilling a key promise in the Return-to-Work Formula (RTWF) agreement signed on July 8, 2025.
Source: UGC
The move ends a two-week strike by healthcare workers under the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) and marks a significant win for medical professionals in the region.
The promotions cover multiple job groups, from Job Group N to S, reflecting a broad upgrade in ranks and recognition for the county’s medical staff.
"We are proud to celebrate a monumental step forward in the struggle for dignity, fairness, and professional recognition for our healthcare workers. Kwale County has promoted 67 out of 68 eligible doctors across various cadres, from Job Group N all the way to S, in line with the Return to Work Formula (RTWF) agreement signed on 8th July 2025, which brought to a close a two-week strike by our committed members," KMPDU secretary general Davji Atellah said.
Among those promoted are 12 Senior Medical Officers, Dentists, and Pharmacists (Job Group N); 11 Specialists II (Job Group P); 30 Specialists I (Job Group Q); 13 Senior Specialists (Job Group R); and one Chief Specialist (Job Group S).
Atellah confirmed that Kwale County met the agreed deadline, issuing promotion letters within the promised three-week timeline.
"Promotion letters are ready for collection, delivered within the promised three-week timeframe, a clear demonstration of what genuine dialogue and decisive action can achieve," he stated.
Why did Atellah praise KMPDU members?
The union praised this prompt action as proof that dialogue combined with firm commitment leads to tangible results.
He acknowledged the leadership of Kwale county governor Fatuma Achani for honouring the agreement and upholding the integrity of medical personnel.
"This not only boosts morale across the profession but also strengthens healthcare delivery for the people of Kwale. To the residents of Kwale: your health is in good hands," Atellah opined.
Source: UGC
The union also sent a message to other counties, emphasising that respecting healthcare workers protects healthcare systems and strengthens service provision.
"Let this be a message to all counties: when you respect healthcare workers, you protect healthcare systems," he stated.
For KMPDU members, the promotion wave represents the power of unity and persistent advocacy.
Why did KMPDU issue nationwide strike notice?
Elsewhere, KMPDU issued a 14-day nationwide strike notice, citing unresolved salary arrears and unfulfilled agreements.
The union accuses both national and county governments of breaching court-backed pacts from 2017–2021 and subsequent Return to Work Formulas (RTWFs).
Despite a December 2024 addendum mandating salary adjustments by July 2025, doctors reported no changes in their July payslips, with some under the Health and Labour ministries receiving no payment at all.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
