Embu doctors issue 14-day strike notice over unresolved labour disputes

Doctors in Embu County have issued a two-week strike notice, accusing the county government of neglecting long-standing labour and welfare concerns and breaching a previously signed agreement meant to address them.

In a hard-hitting letter dated November 17, 2025 and delivered to the County Secretary, the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists’ Union (KMPDU) Secretary General Dr. Davji Atellah said the county has consistently failed to engage constructively despite “various engagements… including but not limited to correspondences, consultative meetings, and memoranda” sent to the administration.

According to Dr. Atellah, the county’s conduct is “in total contravention of the Constitution of Kenya 2010, Public Service Commission Human Resource Policy and section 48 & 49 of the Labour Relations Act 2007.”

The KMPDU boss further accused the county of disregarding a Bipartisan Committee Report and resolutions signed on January 17, 2024, which had outlined agreed interventions on doctors’ welfare.

“The continued disregard of this agreement constitutes a breach of good faith and undermines the principles of social dialogue and industrial harmony,” said Dr. Atellah.

Among the unresolved issues are delayed promotions, a persistent shortage of doctors, non-remittance of statutory deductions, and what the union describes as the county’s continued reliance on locum engagements instead of permanent employment.

Dr. Atellah warned that unless the county addresses the listed concerns within 14 days, all doctors in Embu will “withdraw their services effective 1st December, 2025 at 23:59hrs.”

The letter was copied to several national and county officials, including the Cabinet Secretaries for Health and Labour, the Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU), the Federation of Kenya Employers (FKE), and Embu’s top county leadership, signalling a potentially escalating standoff if negotiations do not resume.