Doctors in Kiambu County are set to begin an indefinite strike on Monday, May 26, 2025, after what they describe as persistent silence from the county government regarding their long-standing grievances. The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) has confirmed the industrial action, accusing county officials of ignoring calls for dialogue and failing to act on critical issues.
Speaking on behalf of the union, KMPDU Secretary General Dr. Davji Bhimji Atellah condemned the county’s failure to respond to a 21-day strike notice. “For 21 days, we waited. We gave notice. We spoke clearly. But Kiambu County responded with silence—no meeting, no dialogue, no intention to resolve the crisis they’ve created,” Dr. Atellah said in a statement.
The doctors are demanding the resolution of several urgent matters including the persistent delay of salaries, deteriorating working conditions, and the county’s failure to honour Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs) previously agreed upon.
Dr. Atellah described the situation as not only negligent but contemptuous, both towards healthcare workers and the residents of Kiambu. “This is not just negligence; it’s contempt—for doctors, for healthcare workers, and for the people of Kiambu,” he stated.
Ahead of the strike, KMPDU has instructed its members to begin discharging and referring patients in a move to minimize harm and prepare for the cessation of services. “The time for waiting is over. The time for action is now,” Dr. Atellah emphasized.
The union insists the strike is not just a fight for fair treatment of doctors, but a broader stand to protect the future of healthcare in Kiambu County. “This is not just a strike—it is a reclaiming of our dignity, our rights, and the future of healthcare in this county,” Atellah added.
In a call for solidarity, the union urged the public to support the doctors, stressing that quality healthcare begins with the fair treatment of medical professionals. “A healthcare system that disrespects its doctors is a system that fails its people,” said Atellah.
As of now, the Kiambu County Government has yet to issue an official response.
