A new health crisis is brewing in Kenya as doctors, through the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists' Union (KMPDU), have issued a nationwide strike ultimatum to the government. The union has given the government 14 days to settle long-standing salary adjustments and unpaid arrears, threatening to paralyze healthcare services across the country once again if their demands are not met. The doctors accuse the government of "playing games" with their payments, signaling a complete breakdown of trust and communication.
The current dispute is not a new one. It stems from the government's repeated failure to honor signed agreements, including the 2017-2021 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) and, more recently, a Return-to-Work Formula signed in December 2024. That agreement had ended a 56-day nationwide strike that left the country's health sector on its knees. Both agreements promised phased salary adjustments and the payment of arrears, but the implementation has been consistently delayed, leading to widespread frustration among medics.
According to KMPDU Secretary-General Dr. Davji Atellah, the union is not asking for anything new. They simply want the government to fulfill promises it has already made. Dr. Atellah blames the persistent payment delays on bureaucratic hurdles and a lack of political will, arguing that the government is not treating the welfare of its healthcare professionals with the urgency and seriousness it deserves.
While the first installment of KSh1.75 billion from the national government was paid in late 2024 and early 2025, the second tranche, which was expected to be released in June, has not been paid. Furthermore, counties were also supposed to pay an additional KSh1.75 billion in arrears in June but have also failed to do so. This has left doctors in a precarious financial position, undermining their morale and their ability to provide quality healthcare services.
