Mombasa doctors' strike averted after KMPDU, county gov't reach agreement

Doctors in Mombasa have called off a planned strike after reaching a formal agreement with the county government, averting what would have paralyzed public healthcare services across the coastal city.

The strike, which had been scheduled to begin at midnight on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, was declared by the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) over what it described as financial mismanagement, stalled promotions, contractual injustices and breach of a previous return-to-work agreement.

In a fresh statement, KMPDU Secretary General Dr. Davji Bhimji Atellah announced that intensive engagements with the Mombasa County government, led by Governor Abdulswamad Sharif Nassir, had yielded a breakthrough.

“We are pleased to announce that a formal agreement has been reached,” Dr. Atellah said, adding that the union would remain vigilant to ensure strict adherence to the agreed timelines.

A major sticking point in the dispute had been delayed promotions, with the union previously stating that dozens of doctors had stagnated in the same job groups for years.

Under the new agreement, the county has committed to promoting all eligible doctors across several job groups.

Fifteen doctors moving from Job Group M to N will collect their promotion letters immediately, while 33 doctors transitioning from N to P will receive their letters on April 1, 2026.

Thirty nine doctors moving from Job Group P to Q will collect their letters on April 1, while another 39 will do so on July 1, 2026.

Seventeen doctors moving from Group Q to R will begin collecting letters from April 1, while four doctors advancing from R to S are set to receive theirs by July 1.

The issue of career stagnation had been central to the union’s grievances, with 28 doctors reportedly awaiting redesignation since July 2022 and 45 consultants remaining formally unrecognized despite meeting qualifications.

The agreement also addresses contractual concerns that had left more than 60 doctors serving under what the union described as precarious arrangements.

According to Dr. Atellah, 64 doctors currently on contract will be converted to Permanent and Pensionable terms effective June 1, 2026, a move expected to enhance job security and benefits.

Another flashpoint had been the alleged failure by the county to remit statutory and third-party deductions, including Afya SACCO contributions, for at least five months.

The union had claimed the lapse led to some doctors being blacklisted by Credit Reference Bureaus (CRBs) despite deductions appearing on their payslips.

The county has now committed to clearing all pending statutory deductions in full by September 1, 2026.

The two parties also agreed on administrative and legal safeguards, including a commitment to shield medical operations from political interference.

Additionally, the interdiction of the Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital Chief Executive Officer Dr. Iqbal Khandwalla has been lifted, with the matter now before the Employment and Labour Relations Court to ensure due legal process.

KMPDU had on February 23 condemned Dr. Khandawalla’s interdiction, accusing the Mombasa County government of bypassing due process and using administrative action to settle political scores, warning that the union would not tolerate what it described as the victimisation of its members.

The strike notice was issued on February 24, 2026, with doctors warning they would down their tools if the county failed to act within seven days.

“Our collective resolve has secured these critical milestones. We will remain vigilant to ensure the county government adheres strictly to these agreed-upon timelines,” said Dr. Atellah.