Judul : Government disburses KSh 3.5B salary arrears for doctors after 7 year push by KMPDU: "Historic"
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Government disburses KSh 3.5B salary arrears for doctors after 7 year push by KMPDU: "Historic"
- Kenya’s medical professionals are celebrating after the government released the final batch of KSh 3.5 billion in long-standing salary arrears
- The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) confirmed doctors have begun receiving the funds, calling the payout a major win
- KMPDU secretary general Davji Atellah, while welcoming the development, explained whjat the next phase of their struggle will focus on
Best for you.co.ke journalist Harry Ivan Mboto has over three years of experience reporting on politics and current affairs in Kenya
Doctors in the country are celebrating what they describe as a long-overdue triumph
This is after the national government finally released the last portion of KSh 3.5 billion in basic salary arrears that had remained unsettled since 2017.
The payment, which had been pending for seven years, represents the conclusion of a lengthy struggle to implement the 2017–2024 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) signed between doctors and the state.
On September 9, Public Health Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni formally notified the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) that the money had been processed and released.
Has government paid arrears owed to doctors from 2017?
In her letter, Muthoni explained that the payment represented the second and final phase of arrears owed.
“Following the signing of the Return-To-Work-Formula (RTWF) and its addendum on December 19, 2024, the national government committed to settling doctors’ basic salary arrears for the period of 2017 to 2024,” the letter read in part.
“The purpose of this letter is therefore to notify you that the second and final payment has been processed, approved and released. By-product instructions have also been forwarded to the respective banks for onward crediting into the doctors' accounts,” it added.
The communication marked the official conclusion of a long-running pay dispute that has often placed doctors and the government at loggerheads.
The arrears settlement was confirmed on Tuesday by KMPDU, which hailed the move as a turning point in the union’s fight for fair compensation.
“This milestone crowns our push for the full implementation of the 2017 CBA and the Return-to-Work Agreement signed in May 2024,” said KMPDU secretary general Davji Atellah. “It proves that with unity of purpose, strategic and intentional leadership, workers can achieve a lot.”
KMPDU hail Ruto for keeping his promise
Atellah further linked the breakthrough to a direct commitment made by President William Ruto during a meeting with health professionals at State House in May 2024.
“In that meeting, the president promised to resolve the arrears in less than two years. Today’s payout shows that promise made is indeed a promise kept,” he told Best for you.co.ke.
The union boss also praised Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale and PS Muthoni for steering the RTWF through what he described as a “dialogue-driven and forthright” process that prioritised engagement over confrontation.
KMPDU shared with Best for you.co.ke testimonials from some doctors across different counties who confirmed receiving the funds in their bank accounts.
Many credited Atellah for standing firm and leading negotiations with consistency, saying the union’s persistence had delivered tangible results.
But while doctors have welcomed the payout, KMPDU emphasised that the battle for improved working conditions is not over.
KMPDU to push for more reforms after getting salary arrears
The union said it will now focus on securing the 2024–2025 arrears to ensure every payslip reflects the new salary rates agreed upon in last year’s agreements.
Another key priority will be pushing the government to employ 2,000 additional doctors to ease the strain on the country’s overstretched health workforce.
Atellah challenged county governments, which are responsible for employing a large portion of Kenya’s health workers, to take concrete action in addressing welfare concerns.
“We are calling on governors to promote all deserving doctors and provide functional medical cover. This will ensure industrial harmony, which is a prerequisite for a successful rollout of Universal Health Coverage (UHC),” he said.
The secretary general congratulated members of the union for their resilience and solidarity during the protracted struggle, describing the final payout as “a victory for every doctor who stood firm in this struggle.”
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