Dr Davji Atellah speaking to the press in a past meeting. /KMPDU
KMPDU has directed doctors in all 47 counties to scrutinise their July payslips, warning that a nationwide strike would follow if county governments fail to implement long-delayed salary adjustments under the 2017–21 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) says there is no longer any technical, legal or administrative reason for counties to delay implementing the revised basic salary scales or publishing a clear timetable for settling outstanding salary arrears.
In a statement to members on Tuesday, KMPDU secretary general Davji Atellah said the union had exhausted every available avenue, including negotiations, legal action and engagements with the national government, county governments and independent constitutional commissions.
According to the union, the key hurdles previously cited to justify the delay have now been resolved and county governments have already acknowledged the CBA provisions and confirmed that funds are available for the payments.
It added that the Salaries and Remuneration Commission provided guidance on the revised salary scales, while the Ministry of Public Service confirmed that the Human Resource Information System (HRIS-ke) has an active payroll code capable of processing the revised salaries.
"There is now zero justification for any further delay by any county government or ministry department," the union said.
KMPDU also argues that the timelines issued by its Annual Delegates Conference in May have since lapsed, making further waiting unjustifiable.
The union has now instructed all branch executive committees and members to verify whether the adjusted basic salaries will reflect in their July 2026 payslips.
It warned that any county that fails to implement the revised salary scales or provide a clear schedule for paying arrears risks immediate industrial action.
Besides a nationwide strike, KMPDU said it is prepared to institute contempt of court proceedings against accounting officers in counties that fail to comply with obligations arising from the Return-to-Work Formula signed on May 8, 2024, and its subsequent addendum, both of which the union says are enforceable court orders.
The doctors' union maintained that it had acted in good faith throughout the process but would no longer tolerate administrative delays that deny members benefits negotiated under the CBA.
"We have engaged in good faith, followed every legal process, and dismantled every roadblock in our way. We will not allow administrative inertia to rob doctors of their dignity and hard-earned rights," Atellah said.
The union told members to remain on standby for further directions from its National Advisory Council as it monitors compliance across the counties.
