By Evance Otieno
The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) has issued a 21-day strike notice to 17 county governments over their failure to implement agreed salary adjustments for doctors.
The union warned that doctors working in the affected counties would down their tools on November 25, 2026, if the county governments fail to adjust their pay in line with agreements reached with the union.
Speaking during a press briefing at KMPDU headquarters on Wednesday, Secretary-General and Chief Executive Officer Dr Davji Bhimji Atellah said 17 of the 47 counties had not implemented the agreed basic salary adjustments, despite repeated engagements and reminders.
He said 30 counties had complied with the directive, while the remaining counties had failed to honour commitments contained in agreements signed between the union and county governments.
Atellah attributed the dispute to non-implementation of the Return-to-Work Formula (RTWF) signed on May 8, 2024, the corresponding court order issued on the same date, and an addendum signed on December 19, 2024.
He maintained that the agreements clearly require county governments to effect the salary adjustments, adding that the Council of Governors (CoG) had issued administrative guidance directing all counties to implement the changes in the August 2026 payroll.
The union cited a CoG letter dated July 22, 2026, referenced CoG/6/40 Vol.119 (72), which instructed county governments to implement the agreed adjustments.
YOU ALSO MISSED: https://safinews.co.ke/boda-boda-association-targets-one-million-riders-for-safety-financial-literacy-training/
Atellah further said funds had been released to the respective counties through the 2025/2026 equitable share allocation, but 17 county governments had yet to act on the directive.
According to the union, it had given the affected counties an additional three months to comply and sent reminder letters in October 2026, but the efforts had not yielded the desired results.
KMPDU said the matter was no longer open to further negotiations, insisting that the county governments must implement the agreed salary adjustments fully and without conditions.
The union said the 21-day notice was intended to compel the affected administrations to honour the existing agreements and comply with the court order.
The counties named in the notice are Murang’a, Nyandarua, Nyeri, Kirinyaga, Kiambu, Lamu, Taita-Taveta, Tana River, Machakos, Makueni, Laikipia, Narok, Kajiado, Embu, Isiolo, Meru and Vihiga.
READ ALSO: https://safinews.co.ke/cybersecurity-agency-board-tasked-to-safeguard-kenyas-cyber-space/
Atellah warned that failure to reflect the adjustments in doctors’ payslips before the notice expires would trigger industrial action in the affected counties.
“Should the respective county governments fail to fully adjust doctors’ payslips before the expiry of the 21-day notice period, doctors working in the affected counties will down their tools on November 25, 2026,” he said.
The union called on the non-compliant county governments to regularise the payments immediately, saying the move would help safeguard industrial harmony and prevent disruption of healthcare services.
KMPDU reiterated that its demand was for full implementation of the agreed salary adjustments, rather than fresh negotiations.
“We demand full implementation of the agreed salary adjustments,” Atellah said.
The planned industrial action raises fresh concerns over labour relations in the devolved health sector, where the implementation of negotiated agreements and the remuneration of medical practitioners remain key issues between healthcare workers and county governments.