The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, issued a 21-day strike notice to 17 county governments. Doctors in those counties will down their tools from November 25, 2026, unless the counties implement the basic salary adjustments agreed on July 22, 2026.
Secretary General Dr Davji Atellah announced the notice, saying money for the adjustments had already been released to counties across the 2025/2026 and 2026/2027 financial years.
Which counties are on the KMPDU strike notice?
Kenyans.co.ke, which reported the notice on November 4, says the affected counties include the following:
- Central: Murang’a, Nyandarua, Nyeri, Kirinyaga, Kiambu, Laikipia
- Coast: Lamu, Taita Taveta, Tana River
- Eastern: Machakos, Makueni, Isiolo, Meru
- Rift Valley: Narok, Kajiado
- Western: Vihiga
That list names 16 counties, although the union’s notice refers to 17. The report did not say which county is missing, so readers in other counties should check with their local KMPDU branch rather than assume they are unaffected.
Why are doctors threatening to strike?
The dispute is about basic pay, not allowances. Under the 2017-2021 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) and the return-to-work formula adopted as a court order on May 8, 2024, doctors’ basic salaries are due to be adjusted. On July 22, 2026, the Council of Governors (CoG) circulated a directive for counties to apply the new rates starting with the August 2026 payroll.
According to Citizen Digital, a KMPDU letter dated October 19, 2026 and addressed to CoG chairperson Muthomi Njuki said an internal audit found only 20 counties had implemented the adjustments by the end of September. The union then listed 27 counties as non-compliant and said it would issue a notice on November 1 if they did not act.
The union’s National Advisory Council (NAC) met on October 16 and resolved to issue the notice without further reference to the CoG if compliance was not achieved. A later compliance audit, Atellah said, found 17 counties still had not implemented the changes despite receiving the funds.
“Today, we issue a 21-day strike notice to these 17 counties that have not implemented the basic salary adjustment as agreed on July 22, 2026,” Atellah said, according to Kenyans.co.ke.
Key dates at a glance
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| May 8, 2024 | Court order and return-to-work formula adopted |
| July 21-22, 2026 | KMPDU circular on payslips; CoG circular directs counties to adjust basic salaries |
| October 16, 2026 | KMPDU NAC resolves to issue a notice if counties do not comply |
| October 19-24, 2026 | Letter to CoG lists 27 counties; reported by Citizen Digital |
| November 4, 2026 | 21-day notice issued to 17 counties |
| November 25, 2026 | Strike begins if counties do not comply |
What have the counties and the Council of Governors said?
None of the reports reviewed on November 4 carried a response from the CoG or the 17 county governments. The union’s position, repeated since July, is that there is no remaining obstacle: The Standard reported in July that the Salaries and Remuneration Commission had approved the revised salary notches and that the Ministry of Public Service had confirmed on July 1, 2026 that the government payroll system already had a special salary code to process the payments.
Will hospitals be affected from November 25?
If the strike goes ahead, doctors in the 17 counties would withdraw services at public facilities. Kenyans.co.ke says the action is expected to disrupt services in public hospitals and limit access to care for thousands of patients. Emergency and referral arrangements have not been announced. Past county doctors’ strikes have ended through court-backed return-to-work deals, so there are 21 days in which talks or a court intervention could change the outcome.
This comes while the health sector is already stretched by the ongoing response to the Ebola outbreak, and by the rollout of the Social Health Authority. See our earlier coverage of the Ebola contacts and 42-day countdown and the SHA claims automation plan. For hospital payment disputes, see SHA hospital contracts and the October 14 extension.
FAQ: Kenya doctors’ strike, November 25, 2026
When does the doctors’ strike start?
The 21-day notice issued on November 4 means doctors in the listed counties would stop work on November 25, 2026, if the salary adjustments are not implemented first.
Is the strike nationwide?
No. The notice applies to 17 counties. In July the union had warned of nationwide action, but the November notice targets only counties found non-compliant in the audit.
What do doctors want?
They want the agreed basic salary adjustments under the CBA and the May 8, 2024 return-to-work formula applied to their pay, as set out in the CoG’s July 22, 2026 circular.
Which doctors are covered?
The notice covers KMPDU members working for the 17 county governments. Doctors employed by the national government, including at Kenyatta National Hospital, are not named in the reports.
Where can I check official health updates?
The Ministry of Health publishes statements at health.go.ke. County health departments usually announce service arrangements before industrial action begins.
Last updated November 4, 2026. By the 254.ke Newsroom.
