KISII – July 17, 2026
The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) has announced the withdrawal of services by doctors working in public health facilities across Kisii County following the County Government’s failure to honour previously agreed commitments regarding salary payments and related dues. The action follows the lapse of timelines that had been communicated to the County through earlier notices issued by the Union.
In June, KMPDU formally notified the County Government that doctors would be compelled to take industrial action if salaries and associated benefits were not paid within agreed timelines. The Union had adopted a graduated response framework, including go-slows and scaling down services before a full withdrawal of labour, aimed at encouraging compliance while safeguarding patient care. According to the Union, repeated salary delays have continued despite these engagements, causing significant financial hardship and uncertainty for healthcare workers.
The withdrawal of services reflects a longstanding position held by KMPDU that healthcare workers should not be subjected to recurring delays in remuneration. Timely payment of salaries is not only a contractual obligation but also a fundamental labour right that enables doctors to meet personal and professional responsibilities while remaining focused on delivering quality healthcare services.
KMPDU has consistently maintained that delayed salaries, unremitted deductions, and unresolved welfare concerns undermine morale, contribute to workforce instability, and ultimately affect service delivery within public health facilities. The Union therefore continues to advocate for sustainable solutions that address the root causes of these recurring disputes rather than temporary interventions.
While the withdrawal of services has now taken effect, KMPDU remains open to meaningful engagement with the County Government of Kisii to secure a lasting resolution. The Union’s objective remains the protection of doctors’ welfare, the enforcement of labour rights, and the creation of a working environment that allows healthcare professionals to provide safe, effective, and uninterrupted care to the people of Kisii.
KMPDU calls upon the County Government to urgently address the outstanding issues and honour its obligations to healthcare workers in order to restore industrial harmony and normal service delivery.
When healthcare workers are treated with dignity, healthcare systems perform better.
In solidarity.
