KMPDU Demands Update on Government’s Promise to Recruit 20,000 Healthcare Workers

The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) has called on President William Ruto's government to provide a clear update regarding its commitment to recruit 20,000 healthcare workers.

The union raised this issue during the inaugural Kenya Health Summit held at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre under the theme "Reforms Delivered, Health as a Right." The event brought together national and county health officials, development partners, and other stakeholders to review progress and challenges in the health sector.

Progress and Pending Concerns

While acknowledging several positive developments, KMPDU Secretary General Davji Bhimji Atellah highlighted the need for transparency on the recruitment roadmap. The union noted that over 1,500 doctors have been transitioned from contract and casual terms to permanent and pensionable positions, including 225 doctors at Kenyatta National Hospital whose salaries increased from Ksh 80,000 to over Ksh 300,000 monthly.

Similar conversions have taken place at Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral and Research Hospital, Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, and within Nairobi County, where more than 300 doctors were regularized. Additionally, postgraduate training fees for over 500 doctors have been approved and paid.

Recruitment Target Under Scrutiny

Despite these gains, KMPDU questioned the status of the broader pledge to recruit 20,000 healthcare workers comprising doctors, nurses, clinical officers, laboratory technologists, and physiotherapists. With just one year remaining in the current government term, the union urged the administration to outline the progress and concrete plans to meet this target.

Other Sector Improvements

• Deployment and timely payment of medical interns has improved significantly, with interns receiving salaries within their first month of posting.
• Doctors posted between July 1 and 27, 2026, are expected to be paid by the end of August.
• Payment of Collective Bargaining Agreement arrears for 2017–2021 to 5,693 doctors has been completed in installments, with individual payments ranging from Ksh 300,000 to Ksh 6 million.
• Counties have received IPPD codes to facilitate payroll adjustments, with outstanding balances for 2024/2025 expected to be cleared by November.

KMPDU emphasized the importance of continuing to implement agreements related to healthcare workers’ remuneration, employment, and training as part of strengthening Kenya’s health system.