After more than a month of disruption to public healthcare services, doctors in Nairobi County have officially ended their strike following a significant agreement between the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists, and Dentists Union (KMPDU) and the county government. The strike, which commenced on February 27, 2025, and lasted 39 days, concluded with the union announcing that all their nine core demands had been met, bringing relief to thousands of patients who had been affected by the prolonged stalemate.
The announcement came through a statement released by the union on X (formerly Twitter), where they confirmed the decision to suspend the strike. The KMPDU lauded the unity and resilience of its members throughout the industrial action, stating that their solidarity had borne fruit in the form of a binding agreement that would see immediate improvements in the working conditions of Nairobi-based medical professionals.
The deal was formalized in the presence of KMPDU Secretary General Dr. Davji Atellah and Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja, a partnership both parties hailed as a milestone in labor relations. Among the major victories for the union was the reinstatement of all doctors who had been dismissed during the strike period, a move seen as both conciliatory and just. Additionally, 369 doctors are set to receive permanent and pensionable confirmation letters by May 1, 2025—a critical step toward job security and improved morale within the public healthcare system.
Further gains included the clearance of long-standing financial obligations. Notably, salary arrears dating back to 2021 for staff at Mama Lucy Kenya Hospital will be paid out in the upcoming May pay cycle. This decision addresses one of the union’s most pressing concerns and signals a commitment by the county to resolve historical injustices in the sector.
The agreement also covered promotions and salary harmonisation, long-time demands that had remained unresolved for years. The union confirmed that doctors working under the defunct Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) will receive their pending gratuities by July 2025. This move is expected to restore trust among healthcare workers who had previously felt sidelined following the dissolution of the NMS.
Significant progress was also made regarding personnel at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH). KMPDU confirmed that 26 consultants had already been promoted in March 2025, with additional promotions on schedule for May. This development was seen as a validation of the critical role played by senior medical staff in the country’s largest referral hospital.
While acknowledging the achievements, the union maintained that the end of the strike did not mark the end of their broader advocacy. Dr. Atellah reiterated that the KMPDU remains committed to pursuing comprehensive reforms in the healthcare sector, particularly in the areas of fair remuneration, improved infrastructure, and respect for medical professionals.
The successful negotiation marks a rare moment of unity and effective dialogue between healthcare workers and government officials. For many in the sector, it is a hopeful sign that future disputes can be resolved through timely and sincere engagement, avoiding the kind of service disruptions witnessed over the past month.
