Striking doctors: Persecution by Kiambu county is fueling our industrial action
A standoff between striking doctors and the County Government of Kiambu escalated on Saturday, May 31, 2025, as the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) accused local authorities of bullying, threats, and punitive tactics in response to an ongoing labor dispute that has crippled public healthcare services in the populous county.
In a strongly worded statement on Saturday, KMPDU warned that continued persecution of its members by the Kiambu County Government was inflaming, not quelling, their resolve.
“How Kiambu County Government ‘professionally’ negotiates with medics seeking better working conditions: Militant threats, bullying and intimidation. Punitive, coercive and arbitrary transfers. Mishandling the media exposing the truth. Turning patients against their own lifesavers. BUT someone tell Kiambu County Government: If a strike is the spark, your persecution is the gasoline, it only steels our resolve. Shame @Kiambu #CountyCrises,” KMPDU said.
Earlier on, KMPDU announced that any form of intimidation or victimisation of the striking Kiambu medical practitioners would escalate the industrial action countrywide.
In a statement, KMPDU Secretary General (SG) Davji Atellah stated that the county government of Kiambu has threatened the striking doctors with dismissal.
“What has the Kiambu County Government offered in response? Illegal threats of dismissal. Let us be clear: this is not just a labour issue; this is a matter of justice and public health,” Atellah stated.
“Threatening healthcare workers for demanding their rights is not only unlawful; it is dangerous. Such actions compromise the integrity of our health systems and endanger lives,” he added.
He has further called on the Kiambu County government leadership to cease intimidation, respect the court ruling, and engage in good faith negotiations to resolve this crisis immediately.
Kiambu doctors’ strike
KMPDU announced the doctors’ strike in Kiambu county on Friday, May 23, 2025, accusing the county administration of ignoring a 21-day strike notice.
The union described the county’s inaction as more than negligence, calling it outright contempt for doctors, healthcare workers, and the people of Kiambu.
“For 21 days, we waited. We gave notice. We spoke clearly. But Kiambu County responded with silence, no meeting, no dialogue, no intention to resolve the crisis they have created. This is not just negligence; it’s contempt, for doctors, for healthcare workers, and for the people of Kiambu,” KMPDU said in a statement signed by Secretary General Dr. Davji Bhimji Atellah.
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