Kiambu doctors’ strike ends after 151-day standoff
By Mathew Ndungu, October 24, 2025After 151 days of a crippling doctors’ strike that left health services across Kiambu County severely strained, the County Government of Kiambu and the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) have finally reached an agreement to end the stalemate.
The breakthrough was achieved during a consultative meeting held at the Council of Governors (CoG) offices in Nairobi, attended by key officials from both sides.
Also watch: Kiambu denies reports of doctors’ boycott, insists hospitals operating normally
Speaking after the meeting session on Friday, October 24, 2025, Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamtangi expressed relief over the resolution, noting that political interference had worsened the impasse.
“We found it necessary to involve the Council of Governors so that this sets a precedent. If politics and politicians were not part of the mix of the strike that has been there in Kiambu, we would not be where we are today. Going forward, we want direct engagement with the union,” he said.
The session was chaired by Tharaka Nithi, Governor and Council of Governors Whip Muthomi Njuki, alongside the CoG Health Committee Chair, Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Sheriff Nassir, Governor Wamatangi, and KMPDU officials were also present.
Also watch: Kiambu dismisses claims of doctors’ strike paralysing health services.
Governor Njuki, who chaired the meeting, confirmed that the agreement safeguards all doctors who had participated in the strike.
“The pending three months’ salaries will be paid in the next financial year. The county will reinstate union deductions effective immediately, and there shall be no victimisation whatsoever by the employer on the members who have been on strike,” Njuki emphasised.
Mombasa Governor Nassir, reflecting on the outcome, said the long standoff offered lessons for counties on labor relations and health management.
“Sometimes hardships create situations that later on become good situations. Kiambu ended up hiring more and more people as a result of the strike,” he noted.
The deal
Under the new agreement, the County Government will immediately remit union dues that had previously been withheld and initiate phased payment of doctors’ pending salaries, starting with one month’s salary to be released without delay.
The remaining three months’ pay will be settled in the 2026/2027 financial year.
In addition, the county committed to reinstating the deduction and remittance of union dues moving forward and to recover past dues for the months when remittance was stopped, once the union provides written confirmation.
The strike, which began over five months ago, was triggered by unpaid salaries, unremitted statutory and union deductions, and what doctors described as poor working conditions in public health facilities.
The standoff led to the withdrawal of services in major county hospitals, forcing patients to seek care in private facilities or neighbouring counties.
KMPDU had accused the county of failing to honor previous collective bargaining agreements (CBAs) and delaying salaries for several months. Meanwhile, the county cited financial constraints and a bloated wage bill, which it said made immediate settlement of dues difficult.
The impact of the strike was devastating; maternity services, outpatient care, and emergency responses were severely affected, with reports of overworked clinical officers and nurses stepping in to fill the gap.
The resolution now marks a turning point in the county’s troubled health sector. Both parties agreed to strengthen communication and dialogue channels to prevent future disruptions.
Governor Wamatangi, who has been under pressure from both health workers and residents, said his administration would prioritize improving working conditions for medical staff.
“We are keen to ensure that health services in Kiambu are fully restored and sustained. Our people deserve uninterrupted care,” he said.
KMPDU officials also welcomed the agreement, terming it a victory for dialogue and a step toward restoring normalcy, urging counties facing similar disputes to pursue negotiation rather than confrontation.