Doctors demand for 55% salary increment
Doctors demand for 55% salary increment
A fresh wave of pressure is building in Kenya’s health sector as doctors renew calls for salary increment and working conditions under a new agreement.
The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) is urging the government to fully implement proposals contained in the 2025–2029 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), saying the measures are key to restoring dignity in the profession across all levels, from interns to senior consultants.
Speaking during the KMPDU Annual Delegates Conference at Safari Park Hotel in Nairobi, Secretary General Davji Atellah said the proposed framework includes a 55 per cent salary adjustment for doctors.
He argued that the demand reflects the economic realities facing healthcare workers.
He pointed out that doctors have gone without any pay rise since 2017, even as inflation and the cost of living have continued to rise sharply over the years.
“The last time doctors got a salary increment was in 2017, yet inflation has been very high,” stated Atellah. He added that the current proposal is not excessive given the circumstances in the sector.
“We had an initial proposal of 30 percent, but these doctors, due to the inflation through out the years, are asking for 55 percent,” he explained. Atellah also criticised the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC), accusing it of frustrating earlier attempts to improve doctors’ compensation despite increasing economic pressure on workers in the health sector.
Beyond salaries, the union is also pushing for automatic employment of all graduating medical students each year, alongside stronger medical insurance coverage for doctors serving in county governments.
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According to Atellah, the union remains committed to sustained engagement with authorities to ensure better working conditions and fair treatment for medical professionals across the country.
He said the leadership carries a strong mandate from members nationwide and must speak firmly on their behalf.
“When I speak to any of the authorities, I speak knowing very well that there are 10,000 doctors that I represent,” he noted. He also reflected on the 2024 nationwide doctors’ strike, saying union officials resisted pressure to compromise their demands during negotiations.
He claimed that despite attempts to influence the process, the leadership held its ground. “Money was offered in big amounts, but none of the leaders dared think about taking any bribes,” he stated.
Atellah further highlighted progress made in the treatment of medical interns, saying recent developments marked a shift from past experiences where delays were common.
“For the first time in almost 15 years, interns did not have to go to the streets before getting their salaries,” he added.
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