“We Are Coming for You!” — Doctors Union Slams Governor Natembeya Over Failing Healthcare in Trans Nzoia
“We are coming for you, Governor Natembeya,” declared Dr. Ambuka. “We are telling you “tawe”
KMPDU Doctors Stand in Solidarity, Demanding Action and Accountability
By James Gitaka
Doctors Union Raises Alarm Over Deteriorating Services, Warns of Looming Industrial Action
The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU), North Rift Chapter, has accused Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya of neglecting the county’s healthcare system, leading to a deterioration in service delivery and pushing patients to pay for essential medical supplies out of pocket.
The concerns were raised during the KMPDU Annual General Meeting held in Eldoret, which brought together union members from all seven counties of the North Rift region.
“Healthcare Is in Crisis” — Dr. Kamonzi Mulei
Speaking during the meeting, KMPDU North Rift Branch Secretary Dr. Kamonzi Mulei said the union has made several efforts to engage the Trans Nzoia county leadership, but little progress has been made.
“Despite the millions of shillings being directed towards the health sector, residents are still being forced to buy gloves, medicine, and other basic supplies from their own pockets,” said Dr. Mulei.
He added that surgical theatre services in the county are not functioning optimally, and instead of strengthening local health systems, the county government has invested heavily in ambulances that mostly refer patients to Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret.
Dr. Mulei warned that healthcare across both county and national levels is on a worrying decline, suggesting that there are deliberate efforts to let the public health system collapse.
Delayed Claims, Unpaid Dues, and a CBA Ignored
The doctors’ union further criticized the State Health Insurance Fund (SHA), accusing it of failing to remit claims on time or paying them in full—especially in public hospitals, mission health facilities, and national referral institutions.
KMPDU has now issued a demand for the full implementation of the 2017-2021 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), which includes the remuneration of doctor interns.
“The government must act. If they do not implement the CBA, we will have no choice but to resort to industrial action,” warned Dr. Mulei.
He also pointed out that counties have been slow to hire qualified medical personnel. Many medical specialists, he said, are underpaid and often treated as general practitioners, with some doctors stagnating in the same job group for over 10 years without promotion.
Dr. Ambuka: “We Are Coming for You”
KMPDU Vice Chair Dr. Darwin Ambuka took an even tougher stance, warning that the union will soon be heading to Trans Nzoia to demand accountability from Governor Natembeya and his administration.
“We are coming for you, Governor Natembeya,” declared Dr. Ambuka. “We are telling you “tawe” for the frustrations you are giving our doctors in Trans Nzoia, It’s in record for close to three months you did not make SHA remittances for our doctors, Our people are suffering, and we will not sit back and watch while healthcare is neglected.”
He also condemned the SHA maternity package, calling it inadequate for struggling mothers across Kenya.
“SHA only pays about Ksh 30,000 for mothers who undergo cesarean delivery, yet the actual cost in most hospitals ranges between Ksh 150,000 and 160,000. Mothers are forced to cover the remaining costs, which is unaffordable for many,” said Dr. Ambuka.
“The Solution Is Not in Changing People at the Top”
Dr. Ambuka also weighed in on national leadership in the health sector, stating that Kenya’s healthcare crisis cannot be solved merely by replacing officials at the Ministry of Health.
“The solution to Kenya’s healthcare problems is not about the number of people changed at the Ministry of Health,” he said. “We need systemic reforms, adequate funding, proper staffing, and commitment from both national and county governments.”
Governor Natembeya’s Response
Governor Natembeya has previously acknowledged gaps in the county’s health system and pledged to address them. He has launched initiatives to reduce maternal mortality and improve access to maternity care. Recently, he presided over the groundbreaking ceremony for a new maternity wing in Kwanza, promising to halve maternal deaths in Trans Nzoia within five years.
However, tensions between his administration and health professionals have persisted. In response to earlier strikes, Natembeya threatened to recruit doctors from Uganda to replace those protesting in Trans Nzoia, citing regional labor protocols within the East African Community.
Call for National Reforms
The KMPDU has repeatedly voiced its frustration with how healthcare is managed under Kenya’s devolved system. The union is among stakeholders who support the idea of reverting health functions to the national government, arguing that some counties have demonstrated clear signs of mismanagement.
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