May 1, 2025 – Nairobi, Kenya
This Labour Day, the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) led a powerful national reflection on the state of healthcare work in Kenya, issuing an urgent call for dignity, fair compensation, and safe working conditions for all medical professionals.
KMPDU Secretary General Dr. Davji Atellah marked the day by honouring the courage and sacrifice of Kenya’s doctors and healthcare workers, stating:
“Today, we honour the dedication, resilience, and sacrifice of every healthcare worker across Kenya… Labour Day is not just a celebration; it is a reminder that decent work, fair pay, safe working conditions, and respect are not privileges—they are rights.”
While Kenyans across the country celebrated workers, Dr. Atellah highlighted the painful contradiction faced by medical professionals who continue to be overworked, underpaid, and exposed to unsafe work environments. Despite their critical role in sustaining the nation’s health system, many still struggle to access their most basic rights.
One of the key issues spotlighted this Labour Day was the exploitation of postgraduate medical registrars working under Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) while enrolled at the University of Nairobi (UoN). These young doctors provide essential clinical services without proper compensation, even as they pay tuition for their training.
“They save lives, but who’s saving them?” Atellah challenged, adding that health institutions must stop benefiting from the unpaid labour of trainee doctors while failing to uphold their welfare.
He emphasized that the dignity of healthcare workers should be upheld not just in times of crisis, but through consistent investment in decent salaries, adequate staffing, protective working conditions, and professional respect.
“Your courage fuels our collective strength,” Dr. Atellah told KMPDU members. “Your voices shape our union’s mission. Today, we renew our commitment to defending your rights and securing the future of healthcare in Kenya.”
KMPDU’s Labour Day 2025 Demands:
Decent Work: Recognition of healthcare work as a professional right, not charity.
Fair Pay: Timely and adequate compensation for all health workers.
Safe Conditions: Protective environments with the necessary infrastructure, supplies, and support.
End Exploitation: Especially of registrars and trainees working full-time without pay.
Respect and Recognition: Tangible action, not symbolic praise.
KMPDU reaffirms its unwavering commitment to advocate for every doctor, dentist, and pharmacist in Kenya. Labour Day is not only a time to reflect on what healthcare workers have given, but to demand what they are owed.
