Kiambu and KMPDU reach deal to end doctors’ strike
By Mabonga Makhanu, October 24, 2025The long-running doctors’ strike in Kiambu County has finally come to an end after the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) and the county government reached an agreement mediated by the Council of Governors (CoG).
KMPDU Chair Dr Davji Atellah announced the end of the 150-day strike following a meeting held on Friday, October 24, 2025. The meeting was chaired by Tharaka Nithi Governor Muthomi Njuki, who also serves as the CoG Whip and Chairperson of the Health Committee, who also doubles as Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir, together with the county boss Kimani Wamatangi.
Speaking after the meeting, Atellah confirmed that Kiambu doctors are now expected to return to work, marking the end of a standoff that had crippled health services in the county for nearly five months, with doctors required to officially report to their areas of work on Monday, October 27, 2025.
He said the discussions showed goodwill from the county government and that the agreed return-to-work formula would be adopted as a court order to ensure full implementation.
“And today, based on our discussions, we have been expressed goodwill that they will be implemented. And this return to our formula will also be adopted in court as a court order. I want to say that the strike that began on the 26th of May 2025 and has now gone on for over 150 days is hereby called off,” Atellah announced.
Atellah explained that the strike, which began on May 26, 2025, was driven by several issues that had remained unresolved for months.
These included delayed promotions, salary deductions, lack of medical insurance, and recurrent salary delays.
He revealed that the union had attended a total of 18 meetings with the county government in an effort to find a solution before the final breakthrough was achieved.
He announced that as part of the new agreement, the county government had committed to addressing pending promotions within two to six weeks.
The county also pledged to ensure that salaries are paid on time, with all statutory deductions and remittances, including those to social and pension authorities, completed by the ninth of every month.
Atellah further stated that the issue of medical insurance had been discussed and a framework for improvement agreed upon, alongside the harmonisation of staff transfers.
Outcomes of the meeting
He added that one of the positive outcomes of the prolonged strike was the employment of additional doctors, which he said would help ease the workload and improve healthcare delivery across the county.
He praised the county government for hiring more doctors and urged them to continue increasing the number of medical personnel, noting that Kiambu is one of the most populous counties in Kenya and requires sufficient staff to meet public health demands.
On the matter of salary arrears, Dr Atellah said the parties had agreed that payments for June and October will be made immediately after verification, while arrears for July, August, and September will be cleared in the 2026/2027 financial year.