Doctors in Kiambu County have officially ended their five-month strike after reaching a deal with the county government and the Council of Governors (CoG), bringing to a close one of the longest medical standoffs in recent months.
The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) confirmed on Friday that doctors will resume work on Monday at 8 a.m., following the signing of a return-to-work formula.
The signing ceremony was attended by Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamatangi, Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir, and KMPDU Secretary General Davji Atellah.
The breakthrough came after a series of mediation efforts led by the Council of Governors, which helped reconcile differences between the county and the doctors’ union.
“We have been on strike for over 150 days,” said Dr. Atellah. “After 18 meetings, we have finally signed a return-to-work formula that provides clear timelines for promotions, salary delays, and remittances.”
According to Atellah, the agreement requires the county to:
- Implement pending promotions within six weeks,
- Ensure timely payment of salaries and statutory deductions, and
- Strengthen health financing systems to prevent future disputes.
He added that the county has committed to clearing all statutory remittances, including those to the Social Health Authority (SHA), by the 9th of every month.
“We have also received assurances on addressing salary delays, and we thank the county government for showing goodwill,” Atellah noted.
The KMPDU Secretary General also commended the Wamatangi administration for maintaining essential services during the strike by hiring additional doctors, while urging the county to continue expanding its medical workforce to meet growing patient demand.
Governor Wamatangi welcomed the deal, calling it a “victory for both doctors and the people of Kiambu.”
“Our doctors are part of my workforce of about 7,000 employees in Kiambu County. We must work together to serve our people,” he said.
He also dismissed reports that patients, including children, had died due to the strike, calling them misleading and damaging.
The governor used the occasion to highlight his administration’s ongoing investments in healthcare, including new hospital projects and the expansion of medical infrastructure across the county.
The resolution of the strike marks a major relief for Kiambu’s health sector, which had been strained for months. Both the county government and KMPDU expressed optimism that future disputes will be handled through dialogue and collaboration.
