The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists, and Dentists Union (KMPDU) has strongly criticized the Salaries and Remuneration Commission’s (SRC) decision to increase Members of Parliament’s (MPs) salaries, terming it a betrayal of public trust.
KMPDU Secretary General Davji Atellah expressed outrage over the move, which comes at a time when the Ministry of Health is grappling with severe budget cuts. He accused the government of prioritizing politicians’ welfare over essential healthcare services, endangering the lives of millions of Kenyans who depend on public hospitals.
“This is a betrayal of every Kenyan who depends on public healthcare,” Atellah stated on X (formerly Twitter). “The government has made its priorities clear—billions more for MPs while slashing the health budget, the most reduced sector in the 2025-26 Budget Policy Statement.”
The Ministry of Health recently disclosed a Sh68 billion shortfall in its development budget for the 2025-26 financial year, which could cripple key health programs. The cuts threaten essential medical supplies, including HIV treatment, vaccines, and blood transfusion services. The State Department for Medical Services has also indicated that Sh30 billion is needed to implement a publicly funded primary healthcare system, while Sh15 billion is required for strategic medical supplies.
Principal Secretary Harry Kimtai, speaking before the National Assembly’s Health Committee, revealed that the Treasury had failed to allocate Sh3 billion for sustaining blood transfusion services due to declining donor support. The budgetary constraints, he said, have significantly hampered key health initiatives.
Atellah further lamented the deteriorating state of public hospitals, which are facing shortages of critical supplies, while healthcare workers remain overworked and underpaid. He condemned the government’s continued failure to honor Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs) meant to ensure fair wages and better working conditions for doctors and nurses.
“Hospitals are running out of essential supplies, doctors and nurses are overworked, and Kenyans are suffering. Yet, instead of fixing this crisis, our leaders choose to enrich themselves,” Atellah remarked.
The KMPDU has now demanded full funding for healthcare services and the implementation of all pending CBAs to safeguard the dignity and welfare of medical professionals. Atellah emphasized that healthcare is a fundamental right, not a privilege, and called for immediate government intervention to avert a looming healthcare crisis.
