Doctors in Nairobi have called off their protracted 39-day strike after reaching a significant agreement with Governor Johnson Sakaja and the national government concerning their long-standing grievances.
The deal, finalized on Tuesday, April 8, 2025, addresses nine key demands raised by medical professionals.
The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) announced the suspension of the industrial action, citing successful negotiations with the Nairobi county government and the Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH), a national government-run facility.
“We are pleased to announce that after 39 days of solidarity, the Nairobi County Doctors’ Strike is suspended. We have secured a way forward for all 9 demands,” KMPDU declared in their statement on X.
The demands agreed upon include:
Nairobi County wins
1. Reinstatement of dismissed doctors
2. Issuance of 369 Promotion and Posting (PnP) letters by May 1, 2025
3. Payment of Mama Lucy arrears (dating back to 2021) in May 2025 payslips
4. NMS doctors’ gratuity to be paid by July 2025
5. Promotions: 72 doctors to S, 80 to Q, and 78 to R by July 15, 2025
6. Progress on a 4% mortgage deal
KNH wins
1. Reinstatement of doctors
2. Salary harmonization
3. Promotion of 26 consultants (with more scheduled for May 2025)
The strike, which commenced at midnight on February 27, 2025, saw all Nairobi County doctors, including those previously under the defunct Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS), down their tools.
Their action was in protest against chronic salary delays, illegal dismissals, stalled promotions, unpaid gratuities, and delayed confirmation letters.
Prior to the strike, KMPDU had issued notices highlighting the persistent frustrations faced by healthcare workers due to salary stoppages and the lack of career advancement opportunities, which they argued severely hampered their ability to deliver effective medical services.
KMPDU Secretary General Davji Atellah had previously issued a 30-day strike notice to the Ministry of Health, threatening further protests if their concerns were not addressed.
This notice followed controversial remarks made by then Health Cabinet Secretary Deborah Barasa during the Health Summit 2025 on February 17.
Barasa had announced a proposed reduction in the salary for new medical interns to Ksh70,000, a significant decrease from the Ksh206,000 stipulated in the 2017 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) agreed upon with the government.
This announcement came despite a prior agreement facilitated by Deputy President Kithure Kindiki in December 2024, which had averted a nationwide doctors’ strike.
That agreement, also involving the Council of Governors (CoG), affirmed the Ksh206,000 salary for intern doctors as per the 2017 CBA.
Atellah reacted strongly to Barasa’s remarks, warning the government against any attempts to reduce doctors’ salaries, stating that such actions would be met with industrial action.
The suspension of the 39-day strike brings relief to patients in Nairobi who have faced significant disruptions in healthcare services.
The agreement reached between the doctors and the county and national governments signals a potential step towards resolving the long-standing issues plaguing the medical profession in the region.
Martin Oduor
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