Trans Nzoia doctors issue 14-day strike notice over lack of medical cover, promotions

Doctors in Trans Nzoia County have issued a 14-day strike notice, accusing the county government of failing to honour key labour obligations and threatening to withdraw services from mid-February if their demands are not met.

In a letter dated February 3, 2026, Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) Secretary General Dr Davji Atellah formally notified County Secretary Truphosa Amere of the planned industrial action, terming the matter “extremely urgent.”

The union said the decision follows what it described as the county’s “persistent failure to honour its statutory and contractual obligations” despite several attempts to resolve the dispute amicably.

Dr. Atellah accused the county leadership of disregarding provisions of the Employment Act, the Labour Relations Act, the 2017–2021 doctors’ Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), and the Schemes of Service.

According to the notice, doctors have endured “prolonged unfair labour practices” touching on promotions, medical cover, union dues and employment terms.

The union claims that about 20 doctors were left out of promotions in what it termed a discriminatory process. It also faulted the county for lacking a functional medical cover for health workers, exposing them to risk.

Further, the KMPDU boss alleged that the county has failed to remit over Ksh.1 million in union dues and has not converted 12 doctors from contractual terms to permanent and pensionable positions.

“We demand that the County Government addresses all the aforementioned concerns in their entirety within the next Fourteen (14) days,” Atellah wrote, adding that the union remains open to “genuine and time-bound negotiations” but will no longer accept promises without implementation.

The notice warns that if the issues are not resolved, all doctors will withdraw their services and down tools effective midnight on Tuesday, February 17, 2026.