Hard truths. Bold Insights. Real talk.
The KMPDU Secretary General political entry comes as the Lang’ata parliamentary seat takes shape ahead of the 2027 election. The current MP, Phelix Odiwuor, popularly known as Jalang’o, has said he will seek the Nairobi Senate seat instead of defending Lang’ata. South C MCA Ibrahim Abbas Khalif is also seeking to move to Parliament.
Speaking on Radio Generation on Wednesday, Atellah said the decision was causing concern among workers who expected the salary adjustments to be implemented alongside those applying to employees in the national government.
Addressing journalists on Monday, KMPDU Secretary-General Dr Devji Atella said the more than 40-day industrial action had severely disrupted services in public hospitals, leaving doctors under increasing pressure and patients exposed to preventable complications and deaths.
Against that backdrop, Dr Magak argues that protecting interns' labour rights is not simply an employment issue but part of ensuring that healthcare workers are able to perform their responsibilities effectively
KMPDU Secretary General Dr Davji Bhimji Atellah said the payroll exercise was expected to begin on Saturday, August 29, paving the way for the release of the delayed salaries.
KMPDU said medical interns play an essential role in healthcare delivery across East Africa and should not be punished for raising legitimate labour concerns.
The announcement comes amid growing pressure from the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU), which had warned of possible industrial action over the delayed implementation of the 2024 CBA.
The union said the salary adjustments are provided for under the 2017-2021 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), the Return-to-Work Formula signed on May 8, 2024, and its addendum dated December 19, 2024.
Speaking on Radio Generation on Monday, Atellah said preparedness should not be reactive but continuous, arguing that Kenya’s health system risked being exposed due to gaps in staffing, infrastructure, and transparency in international agreements.
KMPDU has now called on Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to explain the criteria used in selecting Kenya for the arrangement, while questioning whether the country is being exposed to unnecessary biosecurity risks.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the union said the incident turned a place of healing into a scene of fear, warning that continued attacks on health facilities threaten the country’s ability to provide lifesaving services during periods of unrest.
In Meru County, doctors are protesting stalled promotions, saying some have remained in the same job groups for years despite meeting all required qualifications and approvals.