Homa Bay doctors end strike after return-to-work deal

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Homa Bay County doctors have called off their strike following the signing of a Return to Work Formula with the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU), ending the health sector unrest.

Speaking on Friday, Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga confirmed the development in a statement posted on her official X account.

“We are pleased to announce that the doctors' strike has been called off! Following constructive engagements, we have formally signed the Return to Work Formula with KMPDU,” Wanga said.

The agreement provides for the immediate promotion of 12 doctors, timely remittance of statutory deductions, comprehensive medical coverage, and settlement of all verified salary arrears claims.

Governor Wanga thanked the public for their patience and reaffirmed the county government’s commitment to delivering quality, affordable, and accessible healthcare. Services have now resumed across all facilities.

The strike, which began last month, followed doctors’ complaints that the county government had failed to honour collective bargaining agreements.

The medics, led by KMPDU county liaison officer Ochieng Otana and Ben Otieno, issued a 21-day strike notice on February 4, 2026, after their grievances went unaddressed.

“We gave a notice in time but they did not listen to us. Some officials came and talked to us but what we discussed has not been implemented to date,” Otana said, explaining that the industrial action aimed to compel the county government to respond.

Otieno said the frustrations were demoralising and had begun to erode gains made in reducing infant and maternal mortalities in the county.

“We had made significant gains in infant and maternal mortality reduction, but the gains are being eroded by the frustrations doctors are undergoing,” he said, adding that acute understaffing had denied patients the services they deserve.

The doctors’ grievances included delays in promotions and redesignations, failure to remit statutory deductions, lack of comprehensive medical cover, irregular salary payments, and the removal of some members from the payroll.

With the agreement now in place, normal operations have resumed across Homa Bay’s health facilities, bringing relief to patients and restoring stability in the county’s health sector.