Kiambu County to Clear Doctors’ Salary Arrears as Strike Talks Bear Fruit.
Additionally, the County Government pledged to revert to deducting and remitting union dues, which had been halted during the industrial action.
Additionally, the County Government pledged to revert to deducting and remitting union dues, which had been halted during the industrial action. Photo/Courtesy.
By Ruth Sang
The Kiambu County Government has vowed to compensate the delayed salaries of doctors who have been on strike for months, a monumental achievement in the weeks-long standoff between the county and the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU).
The agreement was reached during a consultative forum held by the Council of Governors (CoG) to mediate the standoff that crippled healthcare services in the county for over four months. The strike had rendered most health facilities understaffed, significantly disrupting service delivery and leaving thousands of residents without access to effective medical care.
As instructed by Muthomi Njuki, the Council of Governors’ whip, Kiambu County will remit one month’s salary arrears to the striking doctors and their October salaries. The remaining three months’ salary arrears will be paid in the financial year 2026/2027. This move, Njuki continued, is designed to restore harmony between the county government and the medical fraternity and have normal health services resumed.
Additionally, the County Government pledged to revert to deducting and remitting union dues, which had been halted during the industrial action. Outstanding dues incurred against the union will be remitted in accordance with the conditions outlined in the Return-to-Work formula.
In the meeting, the CoG again assured that no participating doctors would be punished or discriminated against by the employer. This assurance was meant to build confidence and foster good negotiation between the union and the county.
The Council also urged the two parties to have open communication and respect in their pursuit of sustainable solutions. “We appeal to doctors not to forget their noble vocation — to save and preserve life. We invite the medical practitioners in Kiambu County to accept the good faith demonstrated by the County Government and for KMPDU to withdraw the strike,” part of the CoG statement read.
The Council reaffirmed its dedication to speaking out for the welfare of healthcare workers, noting that the improvement of their working conditions equates to better healthcare for Kenyans.
The KMPDU has for months accused Governor Kimani Wamatangi’s administration of breaching a return-to-work agreement signed last year and of showing little concern for the suffering of residents affected by the ongoing health crisis. However, with this new development, there is renewed hope that the impasse will soon end and that normal operations will resume in all Kiambu health facilities.
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