When a truce was reached last Friday between the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Union (KMPDU) and the Kiambu County government regarding the doctors’ strike, thousands of patients sighed with relief.
Considering that according to Governor Kimani Wamatangi, five million patients are attended to in Kiambu health facilities, the close to five-month industrial action by doctors dealt a major blow to helpless patients.
”The influx of large numbers of patients stems from the fact that the county has better services and resources compared to neighbouring counties,” Wamatangi told a church congregation on Sunday, October 26, 2025.
It is therefore obvious that thousands of patients either sought treatment in private facilities or remained home, exposing their lives to the vagaries of destiny.
The Governor, who had persistently maintained that he wouldn’t engage in dialogue with the striking doctors, says that his county is normally overstretched by the influx of patients from the neighbouring counties, including Nairobi, Murang’a, Machakos, and Nakuru.
“The high patient load highly contributes to a shortage of drugs and at the same time overworks our staff. I thank the 270 doctors who continued serving patients when some of their colleagues boycotted work,” he said.
The Council of Governors (CoG), which mediated the deal, urged both sides to continue dialogue and resolve any contentious issues promptly.
The county government was also prevailed upon to continue enhancing its health financing systems and addressing systemic issues, including the rehabilitation of dilapidated health facilities, which were also among the doctors’ grievances.
The Wamatangi administration committed mutually to ensure that no doctor who participated in the strike will face punishment or harassment.
“We welcome them back to work with our open hands. Let them come so that together we can make Kiambu County better, as my mantra states: ‘Making Kiambu Great Again’,” the Governor declared.
The doctors will resume their duties starting Monday, October 27, 2025, as announced by KMPDU Secretary General Dr. Davji Atellah on Friday.
Atellah added that the union had been given assurances by the county regarding issues such as promotions, salary delays, doctor transfers, statutory deductions, and medical insurance, all of which had been causing problems for doctors.
”I want to say that the strike that began on May 26, 2025, that has now gone for over 150 days, is hereby called off,” he declared. He added, “We would like to ask the doctors to resume their jobs on Monday, October 27, 2025, with immediate effect.”
