By Faith Anene and Daniel Otieno, Kakamega
The doctors’ strike in Kakamega County has entered its fourth week, paralysing services in all public health facilities as medical professionals demand long-overdue reforms and better working conditions.
Health workers, backed by the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU), have decried years of stalled promotions, unpaid statutory deductions, lack of medical insurance, and exploitative locum contracts.
The union’s Western Branch held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Saturday, drawing doctors from Busia, Vihiga, Bungoma, and Kakamega counties. KMPDU Secretary General Dr. Davji Bhimji Atellah described the state of healthcare in Kakamega as “dire.”
“Doctors have been on strike for over 20 days, not because they are not committed to serving, but because they’ve endured seven years without promotions, statutory deductions are not being remitted, they’re working under locum contracts that pay less than a third of what the CBA stipulates, and they have no access to medical insurance,” said Dr. Atellah.
While other counties in the region have made strides—including converting contractual terms to permanent and pensionable status, Kakamega lags behind, he noted.
“In Bungoma, issues remain unresolved. But in Kakamega, the situation is alarming,” said Dr. Atellah. “Our members are clear: no more indignity, no more injustice. The county must act, and act now.”
The KMPDU issued a 14-day strike notice to the Kakamega County Government on April 4, citing a letter dated January 6 that listed unresolved grievances. When the county failed to respond, doctors withdrew their services on April 18.
“We are not returning to work until our demands are addressed,” said Dr. Sande, the KMPDU county branch chair. “Doctors are suffering and we can’t continue to operate under these inhumane conditions.”
The union’s letter, which was referred to the Ministry of Labour and later to the Kakamega Labour Office for arbitration, failed to yield any resolution.
Among the doctors’ key demands are the promotion of medical personnel, with many having met the necessary requirements but remaining in the same positions for years; access to a comprehensive health insurance cover, as they currently work without medical protection, putting their own wellbeing at risk; and the recruitment of additional staff to address the severe shortage of doctors, which has significantly compromised healthcare service delivery across Kakamega County..
County officials have remained tight-lipped amid the escalating crisis. When contacted for comment, Chief Officer for Medical Services David Alila declined to respond, telling County Splash Media, “I will not comment about the doctors’ strike.”
“All eyes are on the County Public Service Board (CPSB). Will they act on the proposed reforms or continue dragging their feet?” posed Dr. Sande Ocharo, the KMPDU Western Branch Secretary. “Healthcare workers deserve dignity, and the public deserves functional hospitals.”
As the union prepares for its national Annual Delegates Conference, Dr. Atellah warned that counties failing to honour Return-to-Work Formulas or implement the 2017 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) will be held accountable.
“We shall not retreat. We shall not surrender. We shall win for doctors. We shall win together,” he said, affirming that the fight for dignity and justice in Kenya’s healthcare system is far from over.
