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Doctors in Embu County have issued a 14-day strike notice, warning that they will suspend their services from December 1 if critical labor concerns are not addressed.
In a letter dated November 17, 2025, the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists, and Dentists Union (KMPDU) stated that the county government had failed to address longstanding issues related to the welfare and employment of healthcare workers, despite multiple meetings, discussions, and formal submissions.
The union accused the county administration of “refusing to constructively engage” on the matters at hand, calling it a violation of the Constitution, the Public Service Commission’s Human Resource Policy, and the Labour Relations Act.
KMPDU Secretary General Dr. Davji Atellah pointed out that the county had neglected its commitments under the Bipartisan Committee Report, which was signed on January 17, 2024. This report had outlined several measures aimed at resolving the doctors’ concerns. The union views the county’s failure to honor this agreement as a breach of trust and a setback to the principles of good faith and social dialogue.
Dr. Atellah emphasized that this ongoing disregard for agreements is damaging to industrial relations and undermines the spirit of cooperation between the county and its workers.
The union highlighted four key unresolved issues:
1. Delayed promotions for medical staff,
2. A shortage of doctors across the county,
3. Failure to remit statutory deductions,
4. The continued use of doctors on a locum basis rather than offering permanent contracts.
KMPDU stated that despite repeated requests and reminders, the county has taken no meaningful action to resolve these issues. The union believes this inaction has placed unnecessary strain on doctors and undermined the ability of health facilities to effectively serve the public.
The strike notice specifies that unless the county addresses these issues within 14 days from the date of the letter, doctors will cease work on December 1 at midnight. The union underscored that this notice is fully in line with the rights granted under the Labour Relations Act.
The letter was copied to various officials, including the Cabinet Secretary for Health, the Cabinet Secretary for Labour, the Central Organization of Trade Unions Secretary General, the Federation of Kenya Employers, and senior Embu County officials, all of whom are aware of the ongoing concerns and are urged to ensure the county adheres to previous agreements.
KMPDU made it clear that they had exhausted all other means of resolving the grievances before resorting to a strike notice. The union is urging the county to demonstrate a genuine commitment to addressing the issues within the specified time to avoid a complete shutdown of medical services in Embu County.
