The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) has issued a strong warning that it may initiate a nationwide doctors’ strike.
This follows continued inaction by both the Kiambu County government and the national government to resolve the 55-day-long doctors’ strike currently paralyzing healthcare services in Kiambu County.
Doctors in Kiambu have been on strike for nearly two months, citing unresolved issues such as lack of promotions, poor medical insurance, and disciplinary threats towards medics who speak out about challenges in the health sector. These unresolved problems have severely disrupted the operations of hospitals across the county.
Addressing the press on Monday, July 21, KMPDU Secretary General Davji Atellah said that the union is prepared to mobilize doctors from all over the country in solidarity with their colleagues in Kiambu.
He emphasized that the situation is no longer a county issue but one that reflects a broader failure to respect the rights and welfare of medical professionals.
“This strike is about restoring dignity—not just for doctors, but also for the patients who rely on them. It’s now day 55 and we’re still seeing zero effort from the county government. Their lack of seriousness is alarming,” said Atellah.
He added, “KMPDU is a united front. When doctors in Kiambu suffer, so do their counterparts in Mombasa, Kisumu, and other counties. We stand together. That’s why we’re planning to escalate this into a full-scale national strike.”
As part of the escalation, KMPDU also announced plans to hold a major demonstration in Kiambu Town on Thursday, July 24, to pressure authorities into taking swift action. The union hopes this protest will draw attention to the county government’s continued neglect of critical health matters.
Atellah didn’t stop there. He also called on Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale to immediately recall all 150 medical interns currently stationed in Kiambu County.
He argued that with the healthcare system in disarray, the interns would not gain the necessary skills or practical experience required to grow as medical professionals.
“We want the Health CS to pull out all intern doctors in Kiambu. There’s no sense in keeping them there when the county isn’t even offering basic support services. These young doctors need to be nurtured, not wasted,” he stated.
The new warning from KMPDU comes two months after the Kiambu County government threatened to fire striking doctors. In a May 28 statement, the county leadership announced that it had already started dismissing a number of doctors who failed to show up for duty.
County Health CEC Elias Maina confirmed that disciplinary measures were underway. He said the county, which has allocated Ksh8 billion to healthcare from its annual budget, expects accountability and professionalism from its medical staff in return.
“We’ve already begun replacing doctors who abandoned their jobs. A headcount is ongoing to determine who failed to report to work. Those found absent will be replaced with equally qualified personnel,” Maina said.
Meanwhile, medics and healthcare students have been voicing their frustration, with past demonstrations held outside Afya House, the Ministry of Health’s headquarters.
Their message has been consistent—medical professionals deserve fair treatment, better working conditions, and respect for their contribution to the country’s health system.
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