KMPDU Applauds Makueni Salary Deal, Urges Machakos and Kitui to Follow Suit

By Andrew Mbuva.

The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) has challenged Machakos and Kitui county governments to follow Makueni’s lead in implementing basic salary adjustments and paying salary arrears owed to doctors.

Speaking during a media briefing in Makueni, KMPDU Lower Eastern Branch Secretary Dr Edwin Mureithi said Makueni County had committed to effect the basic salary adjustment and settle arrears covering 2024, 2025 and 2026.

Mureithi, who represents doctors in Machakos, Kitui and Makueni counties, urged the other two counties to engage the union and resolve the outstanding payments.

“We are calling upon Machakos and Kitui to follow suit and engage us, the leaders of doctors, so that we can effect the basic salary arrears for our doctors,” he said.

He said the union had already requested meetings with the two county governments but was yet to receive invitations, warning that doctors were no longer willing to entertain further delays.

According to Mureithi, county governments had received the necessary funds from the National Treasury to facilitate the payments, and should therefore take responsibility for implementing the salary commitments.

“We are not happy with all these delays and promises. From now on, we are pushing and demanding that they effect the payments,” he said.

KMPDU Lower Eastern Organising Secretary Dr George Muli said the union’s meeting with Makueni’s Department of Health Services had addressed four key issues, including basic salary adjustments, salary arrears, promotions and the recent violence against clinical officers.

Muli said the county had assured the union that it had received funds from the national government and was committed to implementing the basic salary adjustment beginning this month.

He added that several doctors who had waited for promotions for extended periods had since been promoted, while another opportunity was expected in October for those who had not yet benefited.

The official also disclosed that 12 union members were scheduled to undertake SMC and SLDP training under the sponsorship of the county government, urging more doctors to apply for the programmes to enhance career progression and meet promotion requirements.

On the reported violence against clinical officers, Muli called on both the county government and members of the public to protect healthcare workers, warning that attacks on medical personnel could undermine Makueni’s healthcare outcomes.

“Makueni County is one of the best-performing counties in healthcare. Those results come from the efforts of doctors, nurses and clinicians on the ground,” he said.

He urged stakeholders to lower tensions and engage clinical officers in dialogue to address their grievances.

Makueni KMPDU Branch Chair Dr Emmanuel Laiposha strongly condemned acts of violence against healthcare workers, saying medical personnel should not be harmed while advocating for their rights.

Laiposha said attacks on healthcare workers were unlawful and called on the government to take security concerns seriously.

He further urged the county government to provide adequate security during any peaceful demonstrations by healthcare workers, stressing that no member of the medical fraternity should be injured or harmed while raising legitimate concerns.