Africa-Press – Kenya. Doctors in Embu country have issued a 14-day strike notice, warning that they will withdraw their services from December 1 if key labour grievances are not resolved.
The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) in a letter dated November 17, 2025, said the county administration had failed to address long-standing welfare and employment concerns, despite several engagements, meetings and formal submissions.
The union said the county had “refused to constructively engage” on the issues, a move it described as a violation of the Constitution, the Public Service Commission Human Resource Policy and the Labour Relations Act.
KMPDU Secretary General Dr Davji Atellah said the county had ignored its obligations under the Bipartisan Committee Report signed on January 17, 2024.
The agreement had outlined interventions meant to resolve doctors’ concerns.
According to the union, the failure to honour this pact amounts to a breach of trust and undermines the principles of good faith and social dialogue.
Dr Atellah said the continued disregard “constitutes a breach of good faith and undermines the principles of social dialogue and industrial harmony.”
The union identified four critical issues that remain unresolved.
These include delayed promotions, shortage of doctors across Embu county, failure to remit statutory deductions, and the continued engagement of doctors on a locum basis.
KMPDU said these issues have been raised repeatedly, but no meaningful action has been taken.
It added that the county management’s inaction has put doctors under strain and compromised the ability of health facilities to serve the public effectively.
The strike notice states that unless the county moves to resolve all pending issues within 14 days of the letter’s date, doctors will stop working on December 1 at midnight.
The union emphasised that the notice is lawful and grounded in the labour rights provided under the Labour Relations Act.
It also reminded the county that the matters at hand fall squarely within agreed frameworks that both parties endorsed in previous engagements.
The letter was copied to several officials, including the Cabinet Secretary for Health, the Cabinet Secretary for Labour, the Central Organization of Trade Unions Secretary General, the Federation of Kenya Employers, and senior Embu County officials.
The union said these offices are aware of the ongoing concerns and should ensure adherence to negotiated agreements.
KMPDU said it had exhausted every avenue to address the grievances before issuing the strike notice.
The union maintains that the county must show commitment to resolving the issues within the set timeline to avoid a full industrial shutdown of medical services in Embu.
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