Homa Bay doctors’ strike called off after agreements with county govt
By Cynthia Lodite, March 6, 2026Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga has announced the end of a planned strike after reaching a formal agreement between the doctors and the county government, averting what would have paralysed public healthcare services across the county.
In a statement on her official X account on Friday, March 6, 2026, Wanga confirmed that the county government had reached a formal agreement by signing the Return to Work Formula with KMPDU.
“We are pleased to announce that the doctors’ strike has been called off! Following constructive engagements, we have formally signed the Return to Work Formula with KMPDU, signalling the end of disharmony in our health sector,” Wanga said.
On her part, Wanga announced that the agreement reached covers the immediate promotion of 12 doctors and timely remittance of statutory deductions.
In addition, the agreement further covered comprehensive medical coverage for the doctors and settlement of all verified salary arrears claims.
“The agreement reached covers the immediate promotion of 12 doctors, timely remittance of statutory deductions, comprehensive medical coverage for our doctors, and settlement of all verified salary arrears claims,” Wanga said.
At the same time, Wanga announced that services are now resuming across all facilities in Homa Bay County.
“We thank the public for their patience and reaffirm our commitment to delivering quality, affordable, and accessible healthcare to everyone in Homa Bay. Services are now resuming across all facilities,” Wanga added.
Homa Bay doctors strike
Doctors in Homa Bay County downed their tools, triggering a countywide strike that has paralysed services in all public health facilities in February 2026.
At the time, the medics, under the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) banner, began the industrial action on a Wednesday morning after the expiry of a 21-day strike notice issued to the county government.
Speaking at Homa Bay County Referral Hospital during the strike’s commencement, KMPDU Homa Bay Branch Chairperson Dr. Rodgers Otana accused the county government of failing to honour key agreements, particularly the settlement of salary arrears and union remittances.
“Of the seven agenda items that we raised in our strike notice, only one was conclusively addressed; the matter of promotions and redesignations,” said Dr. Otana.
“But the most important one is the matter of arrears. The county government of Homa Bay owes doctors arrears to the tune of about Ksh.7 million. They also owe the union another Ksh.6 million, and until they pay all our members their arrears, we are going on strike.”