KMPDU boss Davji Atellah declares bid for Lang’ata MP seat in 2027

The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) Secretary General Dr. Davji Atellah has stepped into the race for the Lang’ata Parliamentary seat, promising to prioritise education, healthcare and economic empowerment if elected in the 2027 General Election.

Dr. Atellah announced his bid during an engagement with more than 1,000 young people in Lang’ata, where he outlined a development agenda targeting some of the constituency's longstanding challenges.

His entry comes after incumbent MP Phelix Odiwuor, popularly known as Jalang’o, announced that he will not seek re-election to the National Assembly seat, opting instead to contest the Nairobi Senate position in 2027.

Dr. Atellah, who was recently re-elected unopposed for a fresh five-year term as KMPDU boss, is now seeking to translate his profile as a doctors’ union leader into elective politics.

Speaking at Madaraka Garage, where he met Jua Kali operators, mechanics, welders and spare-parts dealers, Dr. Atellah said education would be a key pillar of his campaign.

He pledged to push for what he described as equitable distribution of the NG-CDF bursary, promising that no child would be forced to stay at home because of school fees.

“Education is a right for every child of Lang’ata,” Dr. Atellah said, according to his campaign address.

He further promised to introduce what he terms “100% CDF Bursary Equity & Direct School Fee Guarantees”, saying the programme would seek to keep children of low-income families in school.

Atellah, a medical doctor by profession, also placed healthcare at the centre of his pitch to informal-sector workers.

He said mechanics and other Jua Kali workers face workplace injuries, exposure to smoke, oil and harsh weather, yet many lack adequate health insurance.

“Mimi ni daktari kwa taaluma, na najua afya ni utu,” he told the gathering, arguing that workers should not be pushed into financial hardship when they fall ill or suffer workplace injuries.

His proposal includes an artisan healthcare programme supported through SHIF and CDF, with the stated aim of extending health insurance coverage to mechanics and their immediate families.

The proposal mirrors concerns raised by Jua Kali operators during his engagement, including the cost of healthcare and the difficulties workers face after accidents or illness.

Dr. Atellah also promised to establish a Jua Kali Empowerment Fund through NG-CDF and support the formation and strengthening of SACCOs for garage operators.

Under the proposal, mechanics would receive support to acquire modern diagnostic scanners, car lifts and heavy welding equipment, allowing them to take on more sophisticated vehicle repairs and compete for government and corporate tenders.

“We will help you buy diagnostic tools za kisasa, car lifts, and heavy welding gear so that you can bid and win tenders to repair government and big companies' vehicles,” he stated.

His proposal further includes support for National Industrial Training Authority (NITA) and Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) accreditation, which would enable mechanics with practical experience to obtain recognised certification and compete for corporate and county fleet repair contracts.

Dr. Atellah also promised to address the insecurity of workspaces facing informal-sector operators, including threats of eviction.

He pledged to pursue security of tenure for Madaraka Garage while improving basic infrastructure such as water and electricity connections and access to modern diagnostic equipment.

“Jua Kali si ya kudharauliwa; Jua Kali ni backbone ya uchumi wetu!” he told the mechanics.

He said the proposed interventions were intended to move artisans beyond survival businesses and enable them to access larger commercial opportunities.

The KMPDU boss has also sought to present his union leadership record as part of his political pitch, noting that during his tenure, the union reported that 5,186 doctors received long-standing salary arrears in 2025, more than 3,100 were promoted and over 1,000 doctors were moved from contractual employment to permanent and pensionable terms.

Dr. Atellah has yet to disclose the political party whose ticket he will use to contest the Lang’ata seat or the political formation with which he intends to align ahead of the 2027 elections.

At Madaraka Garage, he proposed forming a five-member liaison committee drawn from the workers to engage with his campaign team and prepare a memorandum of understanding outlining the commitments made to the artisans.

His entry sets up an increasingly competitive race for the Lang’ata seat, which will be open for the first time since Jalang’o won it in 2022 after the incumbent opted to seek a different elective position.