Doctors in Meru County have officially downed their tools following a breakdown in the implementation of a Return-To-Work Formula (RTWF) that had been agreed upon in March 2026, escalating tensions between healthcare workers and the county administration.
The industrial action, led by the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU), took effect at midnight after a 21-day strike notice lapsed without resolution.
Core of the dispute
Speaking on the matter, KMPDU Secretary General Dr. Davji Atellah (Davji Atellah) accused the Meru County administration of repeatedly violating signed agreements and failing to address long-standing welfare concerns affecting healthcare workers.
At the center of the standoff are several unresolved grievances:
1. Failed agreement implementation
Doctors say the county government has not honored key provisions contained in the March 2026 Memorandum of Understanding, including commitments under the return-to-work deal.
2. Financial disputes
The union alleges mismanagement of county funds, including the diversion of resources that were originally earmarked for settling salary arrears and improving working conditions for medical staff.
3. Career progression concerns
Medical personnel have also raised concerns over delayed promotions and limited access to study leave, which they say has stalled professional growth for many long-serving staff.
4. Strained health services
Hospitals across the county are reportedly facing chronic understaffing, overwhelming patient loads, and shortages of essential medical supplies—conditions that workers say have made service delivery increasingly unsustainable.
Impact expected
With the strike now underway, public hospitals in Meru are expected to experience significant disruptions, leaving patients relying on limited emergency and critical care services as negotiations remain unresolved.
So far, neither the county leadership nor the Ministry of Health has issued a comprehensive response outlining how the impasse will be resolved.
source attributed: The Standard