Nakuru doctors threaten strike over two-month salary delay

Healthcare services in Nakuru County risk disruption after the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists, and Dentists Union (KMPDU) issued a seven-day notice to the county government over delayed salaries, unresolved promotions, and denial of study leave.

In a phone interview, the union’s South Rift branch secretary, Dr. Stephen Omondi, confirms that medics are yet to receive their July and August salaries.

He says the situation has left many struggling to meet their financial obligations, yet they continue to serve patients without communication from the county.

“You cannot expect doctors to work for two months without pay or even a clear explanation,” he says, adding that the last communication from the county government on August 29 blamed the delayed July salary on funds held up at the exchequer.

Dr. Omondi explains that the union has also raised concerns about a promotion exercise recently conducted, where several qualified doctors were left out without reasons.

He says some of those who were promoted remain unknown, as the county has not released the official list.

“We know the number of doctors who were due for promotion, about 100, but we still don’t know who benefited and who was left out. Even those who appealed have received no feedback despite meeting the requirements,” he says.

According to him, the secrecy around the promotions has fueled frustration among medical staff, with the union demanding transparency, including publication of the full list of promoted doctors and reasons why others were excluded.

“While several doctors were promoted, a larger number were left out, whereas they met the requirements and qualifications for the same. But they were left out in that particular promotion, and there is nothing or there is no response to explain why they were left out,” he says.

The union is also faulting the county for denying or delaying approvals for study leave, especially for doctors pursuing postgraduate training. Dr. Omondi says many applications have been ignored, with again, no explanation given.

In the letter, seen by Mtaa Wangu, to the county secretary dated September 1, it reads, “In light of the above, we hereby demand an urgent meeting with the county within seven days from the date of this letter to solve the above. Failure to address these issues within the stipulated timeline will leave the union with no option but to pursue other avenues available under the Labor Relations Act.”

Dr. Omondi says that if nothing happens, they will be left with nothing other than proceeding with a strike notice.