Impending Health Crisis: 11 Kenyan Counties Face Strike as Salaries Remain Unpaid

Impending Health Crisis: 11 Kenyan Counties Face Strike as Salaries Remain Unpaid

An impending crisis threatens 11 counties across Kenya as the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists, and Dentists Union (KMPDU) has announced a strike due to delayed payment of July and August salaries.

The union highlights the failure of county governments to provide reasons for the delayed payments, escalating frustrations among healthcare workers.

The affected counties include Lamu, Kakamega, Taita Taveta, Garissa, Meru, Isiolo, Marsabit, Kirinyaga, Samburu, Nakuru, and Mandera.

KMPDU warns that if the salary issues in these counties are not resolved promptly, critical medical services in these regions may be severely disrupted.

KMPDU has also given a 14-day ultimatum to the county governments of Nandi and Mombasa.

The union is demanding the immediate disbursement of March and April salaries that were withheld during a previous strike, despite a court order instructing their payment.

The union expressed its frustration with the counties’ failure to comply with the court’s directive.

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KMPDU Secretary General Dr. Davji Atellah, during a press briefing on Saturday, criticized both county and national governments for their lack of action.

Dr. Atellah pointed out that the return-to-work agreement meant to clear salary arrears from the last seven years remains unfulfilled.

“The payments were supposed to be made in July and August, but nothing has been done. Counties claim they haven’t received funds from the national government,” Dr. Atellah noted.

“We have been patient, but our patience should not be mistaken for comfort. We are prepared to take legal action for contempt and demand these payments.”

Months earlier, the Council of Governors, led by Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru, urged the Treasury to release funds to county governments on time to clear pending bills and pay employees’ salaries.

Impending Health Crisis: 11 Kenyan Counties Face Strike as Salaries Remain Unpaid