Health workers protesting on the streets in Kiambu town on September 24, 2025A prolonged doctors’ strike in Kiambu county has crippled healthcare services for more than three months, denying thousands of residents access to essential medical care.
Now on its 112th day, the industrial action has become a flashpoint of public frustration, with vulnerable groups particularly struggling to seek treatment in private facilities.
The medics are protesting delayed salaries, poor working conditions and the county’s alleged failure to honour a Collective Bargaining Agreement signed with the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union.
Doctors have stood firm, vowing not to return to work until their grievances are fully addressed.
The Ndenderu Ward United, a community based organisation, has written to Governor Kimani Wamatangi, warning that the strike risks reversing the progress made in improving local health infrastructure.
“We now kindly appeal to your office to urgently intervene and facilitate a constructive dialogue between the county government, KMPDU and other stakeholders to reach an amicable resolution,” chairman John Mweha said.
The CBO had earlier petitioned KMPDU, urging doctors to temporarily resume work while negotiations continue, but their plea fell flat.
The Kenya County Government Workers Union, Kiambu branch, has also raised the alarm over persistent salary delays, terming them a breach of employment contracts.
Branch secretary Moses Ndung’u lamented that withholding pay for up to two months has created a hostile environment.
“We encourage the reintroduction of the bank facility that allowed net salary advances in such cases,” he said.
In response, county officials blamed the delays on the national government’s slow disbursement of funds, noting that the crisis has hit multiple devolved units.
Yet, for doctors and other health workers, the explanations offer little relief. With families unable to meet basic needs, frustration is mounting and the standoff shows no sign of ending soon.
