Mombasa doctors to begin strike at midnight after 7-day notice lapses

Doctors in Mombasa have declared a strike beginning midnight Tuesday, March 3, 2026, following what they describe as persistent failure by the county government to address longstanding human resource and governance concerns.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) Secretary General Dr. Davji Atellah, said the industrial action comes exactly seven days after the union formally served notice to the Mombasa County Government.

“Let it be unequivocally known: we do not issue notices in vain. The strike officially commences tonight, Tuesday, March 3rd, 2026, at 00:00 Hours,” Dr. Atellah said, adding that doctors had turned up in large numbers earlier in the day to reaffirm their readiness to down their tools.

The union accused the county administration of what it termed willful negligence in handling doctors’ welfare and compliance with legal agreements.

According to Dr. Atellah, statutory and third-party deductions, including remittances to Afya SACCO, have allegedly not been transmitted for at least five months, despite being deducted from doctors’ payslips.

He said the failure to remit the deductions has led to some doctors being blacklisted by Credit Reference Bureaus (CRBs) over financial obligations they had already serviced through payroll deductions.

The KMPDU boss also cited stalled career progression as a key grievance, claiming that 28 doctors have awaited redesignation since July 2022, while 45 consultants remain formally unrecognized despite meeting the required qualifications.

Further, he raised concerns over employment terms, stating that more than 60 doctors continue to serve under what it described as precarious contract arrangements.

Dr. Atellah also criticized the use of a manual payroll system, arguing that it undermines transparency and accountability.

“The county remains in blatant breach of the 2021 Return-to-Work Formula (RTWF) a legally binding agreement that it willingly executed,” stated the doctors’ union boss.

Dr. Atellah said the strike was a last resort after sustained but unsuccessful attempts at dialogue and good-faith engagement with the county government.

“To the public: we deeply regret the paralysis of healthcare services. However, responsibility rests squarely with the County Government, which failed to act within the ultimatum period despite ample opportunity to resolve these grievances,” he said.

“Our demands are just. Our cause is lawful. Our resolve is firm. No retreat. No surrender.”