The Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Union has entered into a return-to-work agreement with the Embu County government, bringing to an end a nearly two-week long doctors strike that had disrupted public health services across the county.
This follows a consultative meeting between the Union and the devolved government led by Governor Cecily Mbarire, over a litany of issues arising from 14-day November 17, 2025 strike notice, prior to the industrial action.
Among the unresolved grievances raised by the doctors who went on strike on December 1 included delayed promotions, staff shortages, non-remittance of statutory deductions and continuous use of locum contracts instead of permanent employment.
But the agreed outcomes will see the promotion of 19 consultants by mid-January, conversion of 30 contract doctors to permanent and pensionable terms and recruitment of 20 more doctors by next month.
The return-to-work formula that will be later adopted in court specified that all future doctors’ appointments in the county will be permanent and pensionable.
Of the 20 doctors to be recruited, 14 will be instantly and the rest by January 2026.
KMPDU confirmed that the 30 contract doctors had already been converted to permanent and pensionable terms and that all outstanding statutory deductions had been fully remitted, resolving a major financial grievance raised by the doctors.
Some 59 doctors have already been promoted under the August Return-to-work formula.
