KMPDU confirms promotion of Embu doctors after protracted battle
By Cynthia Lodite, February 24, 2026The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists’ Union (KMPDU) has announced the promotion of nineteen consultants in Embu County at the height of a looming strike by doctors in Mombasa County.
In a statement by KMPDU on the official X account on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, KMPDU revealed that the promotion comes following a long-overdue progression by the county government.
“After years of waiting, we are proud to announce that Embu County has finally promoted its consultants. The county has promoted a total of 19 consultants who, for a long time, have only dreamed of such progression,” KMPDU said.
The union explained that in 2021, Embu doctors watched as promotions were announced in other counties while they remained stagnant.
Also adding that the doctors got promoted following thorough, consistent follow-ups, strategic media engagement, and years of agitation, including two industrial actions.
Following the recent industrial action by KMPDU, the union says that so far eighty per cent of doctors in the county have been promoted in three successive batches.
“However, through consistent follow-ups, strategic media engagement, and years of agitation, including two industrial actions, the most recent in December 2025, we have seen results. To date, over 80 per cent of doctors in the county have been promoted in three successive batches,” KMPDU stated.
According to KMPDU, the union’s focus is to ensure that no doctor is left behind, adding that all contracts for the doctors employed in Embu have been converted to Permanent and Pensionable status, with more doctors being employed.
“We are deeply grateful to the Embu KMPDU members for believing in the Union and heeding our call to action. It is through this unwavering solidarity that we are now bearing fruit,” KMPDU stated.
“We thank you for remaining united and for being each other’s keeper. As a union, we believe there is nothing we cannot achieve when we put our collective might and mind to the task. We are stronger together,” KMPDU wrote.
Mombasa medics’ outcry
The promotions have come at the height of a looming strike by the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists in Mombasa County following the suspension of Dr Iqbal Khandwalla.
The medical union has termed the suspension of Iqbal Khandwala as political intimidation within the county’s health facilities, which is unethical. KMPDU have said that doctors in Mombasa County will prioritise their safety, limit services to emergency and life-saving care, and suspend consultants’ clinics and elective procedures.
“The KMPDU has taken note of the County Government of Mombasa’s position statement regarding the suspension of our member, Dr Iqbal Khandwalla. While the County describes the suspension as a standard procedural step and assures the public of an impartial process, the circumstances surrounding this action raise serious concerns,” KMPDU stated.