All senior officials of the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) have been voted back into office after the union held its elections on Thursday, April 2, in a closely watched exercise that followed a court decision allowing the process to continue.
National Chairperson Dr. Abidan Mwachi successfully defended his seat after receiving 66.59 per cent of the vote. He defeated Deogracious Maero, who garnered 21.2 per cent, and Benjamin Magare, who secured 11.74 per cent.
His victory now gives him another term to continue leading the union at a time when doctors across the country are still pushing for better working conditions and stronger representation.
Secretary General Dr. Davji Atellah also kept his position, going through unopposed in a show of strong confidence from members.
Other senior officials who were also returned to office include Deputy Chairperson Dr. David Mundia and National Treasurer Mercy Nabwire, further confirming members’ support for continuity in the union’s leadership.
Deputy Secretary General Dr. Dennis Miskellah was also re-elected after securing 69.64 per cent of the vote. He beat challenger Wendy Kimbui, who managed 29.99 per cent, completing the successful return of the union’s entire top leadership team.
The results reflected a clear endorsement from members, many of whom appeared to favour stability and experienced leadership as the health sector continues to face major challenges.
The election recorded an impressive turnout of 6,231 members, representing about 70 per cent of all eligible voters.
The high participation level highlighted the strong interest among union members in shaping the future direction of KMPDU and its continued role in defending the welfare of doctors and other medical professionals.
The vote came just one day after the Employment and Labour Relations Court dismissed an attempt to stop the elections. A group of doctors, including some of those contesting against the incumbents, had moved to court seeking conservatory orders to block the poll.
Among the petitioners were Wendy Kimbui, Deogracious Maero, and Clarence Mweresa. They argued that the Independent Electoral Committee (IEC) had been improperly formed and lacked the independence needed to conduct a credible election.
Their main concern was the reappointment of the same committee that had supervised the May 2021 elections, which were later nullified by the court.
The petitioners also raised concerns over the eligibility of some committee members, claiming that some were inactive or did not qualify to serve in the positions they held.
According to them, these issues cast doubt on the credibility and fairness of the entire electoral process. They further questioned the voter register and nomination procedures, insisting that the integrity of the exercise was at risk.
However, both the IEC and the KMPDU leadership strongly opposed the court application. They maintained that the electoral process had been conducted within the law and warned that stopping the elections would interfere with union operations while also denying thousands of members their democratic right to vote.
In its ruling, the court made it clear that conservatory orders are not issued automatically. The judge noted that such orders require clear proof that rights have been violated or that there is imminent harm likely to occur if the court does not intervene.
After reviewing the arguments, the court found that the petitioners had failed to meet the required legal threshold.
It upheld the legitimacy of the IEC and dismissed the claims of bias, irregularities, and lack of independence, saying there was not enough evidence to justify halting the elections.
The court further stated that disputes touching on the voter register, nominations, and other internal election procedures should first be handled through the union’s own dispute resolution and appeal mechanisms instead of rushing to court before the process is concluded.
By dismissing the case, the ruling cleared the way for the elections to proceed smoothly, leading to the re-election of the full top leadership team.
The outcome now gives the officials a fresh mandate as members look to them to continue pushing for improved doctors’ welfare, better pay, stronger healthcare policies, and more effective engagement with both county and national governments.
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