KMPDU tears into governors over chronic healthcare crisis
By Joel Masibo, August 15, 2025Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) Secretary General Davji Bhimji Atellah has challenged county governments to address the persistent challenges undermining the delivery of quality healthcare in devolved units.
Speaking during the ongoing Devolution Conference in Homa Bay County, Atellah said while devolution has created opportunities for improved healthcare access, it has also revealed deep gaps in staffing, fair remuneration, infrastructure, and medical supply chains.
Devolution must deliver
“For us at KMPDU, devolution must deliver on its promise of dignified, equitable healthcare for every Kenyan. Our focus is clear: to ensure healthcare remains a constitutional right,” he said.
The union leader urged governors to prioritise investment in well-resourced facilities, ensure adequate and fairly compensated medical personnel, and strengthen systems to guarantee uninterrupted service delivery.
“At the heart of healthcare is dignity, for both patients and the workers who serve them. Every county must commit to supporting its healthcare workforce and delivering services that meet the needs of its people,” Atellah added.
Atellah’s call comes at a time when county hospitals in several regions are grappling with understaffing, delayed salaries for health workers, dilapidated infrastructure, and chronic shortages of essential drugs, raising questions about the sustainability of devolved healthcare.
However, there is hope on the horizon as President William Ruto has announced a major boost to Kenya’s county governments after signing into law the County Allocation of Revenue Bill, 2025, and the County Public Finance Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2023, at the State Lodge in Homa Bay on Wednesday, August 13, 2025.
Under the new law, the equitable share of revenue among the 47 counties will rise to Ksh415 billion, representing an increase of nearly Ksh30 billion from last year’s Ksh387.4 billion.
The Head of State said the new law is meant to improve service delivery at the ward level. This development comes at a time when Members of the County Assembly have been decrying a lack of enough resources to initiate development projects at the grassroots.
“This significant increase in the funds underpins our commitment to mobilising more resources to support devolution and boost service delivery to the people at the grassroots,” President Ruto said during the signing ceremony in Homa Bay County earlier in the week.