Doctors in Trans Nzoia issue 14-day strike notice

KMPDU secretary general Davji Atellah addressing the media on January 8, 2026. /KMPDU

Doctors’ union KMPDU has issued a 14-day strike notice for medics in Trans Nzoia county over what it termed the county administration’s “persistent failure to honour its statutory and contractual obligations.”

In a notice issued on Tuesday, February 3, the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) secretary general Davji Atellah said the county leadership had demonstrated blatant disregard for the Employment Act, the Labour Relations Act, the 2017–2021 Doctors’ Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) and the Schemes of Service.

He accused the George Natembeya administration of subjecting union members to unfair labour practices, including discriminatory promotions that excluded about 20 doctors.

Atellah also cited the lack of a functional medical cover, leaving doctors without health insurance protection if they fall ill, as well as the county government’s failure to remit more than Sh1 million in union dues arrears.

Other grievances include the failure to convert 12 doctors’ contracts to permanent and pensionable terms.

“We demand that the county government addresses all the aforementioned concerns in their entirety within the next 14 days. Take notice that upon the expiry of this 14-day period, if the county government fails to meet these demands in totality, all doctors shall withdraw their services and down tools effective midnight on Tuesday, February 17, 2026,” Atellah said in a letter addressed to county secretary Truphosa Amere.

Despite the ultimatum, Atellah said KMPDU remains open to time-bound negotiations to avert disruption of medical services but warned that “we will no longer accept promises without tangible implementation.”

The strike threat adds to mounting scrutiny over the county’s management of its health sector.

On January 20, Natembeya faced questions from the Senate Committee on County Public Investments and Special Funds Sub-Committee over glaring accountability gaps in the management of water services and why the county’s only two Level 4 hospitals are located barely two kilometres apart.

The committee, chaired by Senator Peris Tobiko, questioned the decision to situate the Wamalwa Kijana Teaching and Referral Hospital in close proximity to Kitale County Referral Hospital.

Following the transfer of nearly 90 per cent of services to Wamalwa Kijana Hospital, Kitale Hospital has remained largely underutilised, with most wards, offices, and examination rooms lying idle.

In particular, the committee raised concern over Kitale Hospital’s reference laboratory, valued at approximately Sh500 million, which previously generated about Sh3 million quarterly.

Since the transfer, the laboratory has remained largely inactive, leaving costly equipment idle.

Natembeya defended the move, saying, “The county rationalised services to improve efficiency, and we are working to reactivate idle assets and reduce water losses.”

However, Tobiko questioned the logic.

“Efficiency cannot mean abandoning billion-shilling facilities while citizens in other parts of the county lack access. This committee will not accept wastage dressed up as reform,” she said.