KMPDU to release list of shame exposing rogue insurance companies
By Faith Lagat, August 19, 2025The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) is preparing to release a list of shame naming rogue insurance companies accused of frustrating access to quality healthcare.
The move comes as the doctors’ strike in Kiambu County enters day 85, with union leaders insisting they will not relent until their concerns are fully addressed.
Sabotaging healthcare
KMPDU Secretary General Davji Atellah said the list will expose companies that dictate how hospitals operate, limit patients’ access to doctors and tests, delay payments, and force cash transactions.
He accused insurance firms of exploiting loopholes in regulation to drain public funds, even compelling the Social Health Authority to settle bills upfront.
“These cartels are standing between doctors and their patients, denying Kenyans their right to quality healthcare,” Atellah charged. He further accused regulators, including the Competition Authority and Insurance Regulatory Authority, of looking the other way.
The union argues that rising premiums, capped charges for providers, and persistent payment delays have crippled the health system, leaving both doctors and patients at the mercy of profit-driven insurers.
Doctors’ strike
The tension comes against the backdrop of a prolonged doctors’ strike in Kiambu, where health workers have downed their tools for nearly three months. The medics are demanding fair remuneration, improved staffing levels, better infrastructure, and a steady supply of medical commodities.
Atellah, who spoke during the Devolution Conference in Homa Bay, said devolution can only succeed if counties prioritise investment in healthcare. “Devolution must deliver on its promise of dignified, equitable healthcare for every Kenyan,” he said.
His remarks follow the recent signing of the County Allocation of Revenue Bill, 2025, by President William Ruto, which increases county allocations to Ksh415 billion. The union believes this boost should help improve healthcare delivery if governors channel resources effectively.
Fresh protests planned
Despite renewed funding promises, the union maintains that only action, not pledges, will ease the crisis. Atellah confirmed that KMPDU will stage fresh protests in Kiambu next week to pressure the county government to meet their demands.
“Our strike is about the right of every Kiambu resident to access quality, timely, and dignified healthcare,” he said, signalling that the standoff is far from over.