Kenya – Doctors In Nandi And Mombasa Counties Threaten To Strike Over Withheld Salaries

By Lisbeth Micheni, Kenya

The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) has issued a 14-day strike notice to the Nandi and Mombasa County governments over the non-payment of doctors’ salaries for March and April.

This decision comes after the counties failed to release the withheld salaries despite a court order demanding their payment.

KMPDU, in a strongly worded statement, accused the county governments of defying a court directive issued earlier this year mandating the immediate release of the doctors’ salaries that were withheld while they were on strike.

The union claims that the counties’ failure to comply with the court order has placed undue financial strain on doctors, who have been left without pay for months.

Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) Secretary-General, Doctor. Davji Bhimji Atellah, stated that the union has exhausted all avenues of negotiation with the county governments and is now left with no choice but to issue a strike notice.

“Our doctors have not been paid for two months, and this is despite a court order. We have tried to engage the county governments, but they have continued to ignore us. This is unacceptable, and we demand that they pay our members immediately,” Dr. Atellah said.

The union’s notice indicates that if the salaries are not paid within the next 14 days, doctors in Nandi and Mombasa counties will down their tools, potentially crippling healthcare services in these regions.

The strike would affect both public and private hospitals, leaving thousands of patients without access to essential medical services.

This latest development is part of a broader struggle between the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU and county governments across Kenya, with the union often citing delays in salary payments, inadequate working conditions, and a lack of essential medical supplies as ongoing issues.

KMPDU has called on the national government to intervene and ensure that county governments comply with court orders and fulfill their obligations to healthcare workers.

Patients in Nandi and Mombasa counties have expressed concern over the looming strike, fearing that it could lead to a healthcare crisis if not resolved promptly. “We are already facing so many challenges in accessing medical c

are, and now this. The government needs to find a solution before things get worse,” said a resident of Nandi County.

The county governments of Nandi and Mombasa have not yet responded to the strike notice. However, they are expected to engage in negotiations with the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union ( KMPDU to avert a potentially devastating strike.)

As the 14-day countdown begins, all eyes are on the county administrations to see if they will comply with the court order and pay the overdue salaries, or if the healthcare system in these counties will face another disruption.