KMPDU confirms start of Mombasa doctors’ strike as notice period lapses
By Cynthia Lodite, March 3, 2026The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists’ Union (KMPDU) have announced a doctors’ strike set to kick off on Tuesday night, March 3, 2026, in Mombasa County.
In a statement by the KMPDU official X account on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, the doctors announced that the strike will kick off at midnight, marking seven days since their grievances went unheard.
The doctors have further listed out some reasons behind the upcoming strike in the county.
“The #Mombasa Doctors’ Strike officially commences tonight, Tuesday, 3rd March 2026, at 00:00 hours. Today marks seven (7) days since notice was served to the County Government of Mombasa,” KMPDU said.
According to the doctors, among the key grievances submitted to the Mombasa County Government is financial sabotage, which the doctors have explained as deductions being withheld for up to five months.
In addition, the KMPDU expressed an unfair blacklisting of doctors and systematic stagnations, which they say have frozen doctors’ career progression.
“We strike because: – Financial Sabotage – deductions withheld for 5+ months, unfairly blacklisting doctors. – Systemic Stagnation – career progression frozen; consultants unrecognised,” KMPDU stated.
On the other hand, the Mombasa doctors have listed contractual injustice as one of the reasons for the scheduled strike, saying that over sixty doctors are on precarious contracts with a non-transparent payroll.
The KMPDU has further accused the Mombasa County government of disregarding the law by breaching the 2021 return-to-work formula.
“Contractual Injustice – over 60 doctors on precarious contracts with non-transparent payroll. – Disregard for the Law – breach of the 2021 Return-to-Work Formula (RTWF),” KMPDU explained.
“To our members: your solidarity shows we are disciplined and unwavering. To the public: we regret service disruption; responsibility rests with the County Government. Our demands are just. Our cause is lawful. No retreat. No surrender. Solidarity forever!” KMPDU stated.
KMPDU shutdown notice
The Mombasa doctors’ strike came seven days after KMPDU issued a seven-day strike notice to the Mombasa County government, warning that health services could grind to a halt if longstanding labour grievances are not addressed.
In a sharply worded letter issued on Tuesday, KMPDU Secretary General Dr. Davji Atellah accused the county of “wilful negligence” in handling doctors’ welfare and failing to honour binding agreements, despite what the union described as “some strides” in improving salary payment timelines.
At the time, the union cited multiple unresolved issues, top among them non-compliance with the 2021 Return-to-Work Formula, which it termed a legally binding agreement.
The county is currently overseeing the systemic stagnation of its medical workforce. 28 Doctors have been pending redesignation since the suitability interviews held on 15th July 2022. 45 Consultants have since qualified but remain unrecognised within a staff establishment that has not been updated in years,” he stated.
“This delay not only denies doctors their rightful earnings but also exposes the county to legal enforcement under Petition E014 of 2021 – ELRC Mombasa,” Atellah said.