Patients in Kakamega County will continue to suffer after the county government failed to reach a deal with the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) to end the ongoing strike.
On Monday, the planned meeting between KMPDU officials and top county officials in a bid to avert the ongoing strike and have a return-to-work formula failed to materialise as the two groups failed to meet.
However, the county government, through CECM for Public Service and County Administration, Dr Bonface Okoth, wrote to the striking medics through an internal memo dated May 16, 2025, requesting doctors to return to work with immediate effect or face disciplinary action. "This memo serves to address the concerns raised by doctors currently on strike and to inform you of all the progress made in resolving the matters brought forward; the promotion and employment lists for doctors have been finalised and submitted to the County Public Service Board, scheduled for advertisement next week.
The county has made all required payments towards the comprehensive health cover, and all obligations are fully up to date," read the memo in part.
