Eldoret — Doctors at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) have issued a 14-day strike notice, demanding urgent action over unpaid salary arrears, lack of medical insurance, and the hospital’s failure to implement a key labor agreement signed earlier this year. The notice, delivered Wednesday by the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU), signals growing unrest at Moi Teaching and Referral hospital. The union accused the hospital’s management of ignoring critical labor commitments made under the Return-to-Work Formula (RTWF) signed on February 19, 2025.
KMPDU Secretary General Dr. Davji Bhimji Atellah said the hospital’s actions reflect continued neglect of doctors’ welfare. He pointed out that MTRH doctors are working without medical cover a situation he called “a paradox” for health professionals. “You cannot offer services you yourself can’t access when in need, or for your family,” Dr. Atellah stated. “Doctors here have no medical insurance. And the unresolved basic salary arrears cannot be ignored any longer.”
The union said doctors at the Eldoret-based hospital have endured months of unmet promises, including delayed salary payments and a lack of transition for contract doctors to permanent and pensionable terms. Messages from doctors shared with the union reportedly expressed “desperation, disillusionment, and despair” over working conditions and lack of access to healthcare. The situation, according to the union, has reached a breaking point.
KMPDU held a general assembly on Wednesday, where members unanimously agreed to begin strike action if the issues remain unresolved within two weeks.
The union’s four main demands are:
- Full implementation of the Return-to-Work Formula
- Comprehensive medical insurance for all doctors
- Immediate payment of all salary arrears
- Conversion of contract staff to permanent and pensionable employment
Dr. Atellah said the union will stand by its members and pursue every available legal and civic channel to resolve the crisis.
“We will not leave any doctor behind,” he said. “Agreements must be honored. Justice and dignity are not negotiable. Our action will be felt in the boardrooms, on the streets, and in the media.”
The MTRH management has not yet issued an official response to the strike notice. If no resolution is reached by the end of the 14-day period, the hospital could face a major disruption to essential services.
The standoff comes amid mounting pressure on Kenya’s public healthcare system, already strained by budget cuts and staff shortages. Eldoret residents, who depend on MTRH for specialized treatment, may soon bear the brunt of a paralyzed medical workforce unless talks begin immediately.
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