KMPDU calls truce after Kisumu talks, sets 90-day deadline on doctors’ promotions

The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) has stepped back from the brink of industrial action in Kisumu County after securing firm timelines from Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o’s administration on long-standing doctors’ welfare issues.

In a consultative meeting convened by the Governor on Tuesday, the union and county officials agreed on a 90-day window to conclude all pending promotions and confirm doctors serving on contract terms, an outcome KMPDU says will determine whether recent healthcare gains translate into real benefits for frontline workers.

The meeting followed the union’s intention to issue a strike notice, a move that had raised concerns over the stability of healthcare services in the lakeside county.

KMPDU Secretary General Dr. Davji Atellah welcomed the elevation of Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) to Level 6 status, terming it a major opportunity for Kisumu and the wider region.

“This transition carries immense potential, including expanded access to highly specialized care, improved infrastructure and equipment, and the positioning of Kisumu as a regional hub for advanced healthcare and medical tourism,” he stated.

However, the union warned that without deliberate action, doctors risk being left behind even as the hospital scales new heights.

“At the same time, we raised concerns that the anticipated benefits of this transition, particularly improved welfare for our members and the correction of historical injustices, risk being overlooked,” Dr. Atellah noted.

To prevent that, the county government committed that within 90 days, all pending promotions and confirmations to permanent and pensionable (PnP) terms would be finalized.

The agreement specifically covers; 10 doctors within the competitive cadre (JG Q–S), including newly qualified consultants transitioning from the common cadre to JG Q; 19 doctors progressing from JG M to N, and from JG N to P; and 8 doctors currently on long-term contracts, to be confirmed within the same period.

“The Union, working closely with the Department of Finance, the Department of Health, and the County Public Service Board (CPSB), will ensure this process is fully implemented,” said the KMPDU boss.

Dr. Atellah underscored the union’s readiness to take action should the timelines lapse, noting that monitoring compliance is part of KMPDU’s DNA.

“As KMPDU, we are known for actively monitoring the implementation of agreements, pursuing structured follow-ups, and taking all necessary action to ensure tangible and just outcomes for our members,” he said.