Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamatangi has hailed the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) for agreeing to call off their 150-day doctors’ strike.

While speaking after a meeting chaired by the Council of Governors Health Committee Chair Abdulswamad Sharif Nassir and CoG Chief Whip Muthomi Njuki, together with KMPDU leadership led by Davji Atellah, on Friday, October 24, 2025, the governor commended the decision that saw doctors ordered back to work by Atellah.

He noted that involving the Council of Governors was necessary in resolving the matter and that it sets an important precedent for handling similar issues in the future. The governor said that his colleagues across counties would now know that the CoG is the right forum to address such disputes.

He went ahead to hail the union’s leadership for their cooperation and expressed optimism that such a spirit of understanding should guide future engagements.

“Let me also appreciate the union today, because they’ve come out, and I believe that should be the spirit moving forward,” Wamatangi said

The governor further warned against politicising development, saying that the involvement of politics and politicians in technical matters like health has often hindered progress in the sector and slowed the country’s development.

Also watch: KMPDU Deputy SG says Ruto misled Kenyans on Social Health Authority reforms.

Attellah ending the strike

These came after Atellah called off and 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 medics 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.

The outcome

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.