Doctors Strike Nationwide in Solidarity with Kiambu Colleagues

By Kimberly Kalusi

Doctors across the country have launched a nationwide strike in solidarity with their colleagues in Kiambu County, who have been protesting delayed salaries, poor working conditions, and lack of essential medical supplies in public hospitals.

The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) announced the industrial action on Monday, accusing the Kiambu County Government of failing to address long-standing grievances despite multiple warnings and negotiations.

According to KMPDU Secretary-General Dr. Davji Atellah, the doctors in Kiambu have gone for over three months without pay, forcing them to work under “inhumane and unsustainable conditions.” He said the union decided to escalate the matter to a national strike after county officials failed to honor promises made in previous meetings.

“It is unacceptable that doctors continue to serve tirelessly, saving lives every day, yet go home empty-handed. The situation in Kiambu represents a broader crisis across counties where health workers are being mistreated,” said Dr. Atellah.

Public hospitals in Kiambu, including Thika Level Five, Kiambu Level Five, and Gatundu Level Four, have been operating at minimal capacity since last week as doctors staged sit-ins and peaceful protests outside county offices.

Following the KMPDU announcement, medical practitioners in several counties — including Nairobi, Nakuru, Mombasa, and Kisumu — downed their tools in solidarity. Services in major referral hospitals such as Kenyatta National Hospital and Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital were disrupted as union members joined the strike.

The Ministry of Health appealed to the union to call off the nationwide action, warning that it could endanger lives, especially in public facilities where patients depend solely on government services.

Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha said her ministry was in talks with the Council of Governors to resolve the impasse.

“We understand the doctors’ concerns and recognize their contribution to our healthcare system. However, we urge for dialogue, not disruption. The national government is engaging counties to ensure health workers are paid and essential services continue,” said the CS.

Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamatangi, in a statement, acknowledged the delayed payments but attributed them to budgetary constraints and late disbursement of funds from the National Treasury. He assured that his administration was working to clear the arrears.

“We are in communication with the Treasury to ensure doctors and other county health staff receive their dues. We value their service and are committed to resolving this matter as soon as possible,” said Wamatangi.

However, union officials dismissed the explanation, accusing the county of mismanagement and prioritizing politics over essential services.

Patients seeking medical attention in public hospitals were turned away or forced to seek care in private facilities, where costs are significantly higher. In Thika and Kiambu towns, long queues formed outside pharmacies as residents attempted to buy medication prescribed by doctors who had already left duty stations.

Some nurses and clinical officers, though not officially part of the strike, expressed sympathy with the doctors’ cause, warning that they too may join if working conditions do not improve.

KMPDU has issued a seven-day ultimatum to both county and national governments to resolve the salary arrears, supply essential drugs to hospitals, and guarantee job security for contract doctors.

If the demands are not met, the union has vowed to extend the strike indefinitely.

“This is not just about Kiambu — it is about respect for healthcare workers across Kenya. We cannot continue to serve in a system that ignores our welfare while expecting excellence,” said Dr. Atellah.

As talks continue, the strike has once again brought to light the persistent crisis in Kenya’s devolved health sector, where delayed salaries, understaffing, and resource shortages remain a recurring challenge more than a decade after devolution.