KMPDU Demands 55% Pay Rise for Doctors in New 2025-2029 CBA

Delegates from across Kenya ratified new leadership and adopted sweeping policy, governance and labour resolutions during the 10th Annual Delegates Conference of the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union at the Safari Park Hotel in Nairobi on or before 11 May 2026.

The union is demanding a 55 percent pay rise in the 2025-2029 Collective Bargaining Agreement, with the proposed salary adjustment aligned to inflation trends. It wants negotiations on the CBA concluded within 90 days and implementation of any agreed salary adjustments to begin within 21 days after negotiations conclude.

KMPDU is also seeking urgent settlement of arrears in the 2025-2029 Collective Bargaining Agreement and immediate settlement of outstanding arrears for the 2024/2025 financial year. The union cites existing court determinations regarding those arrears. "We expect compliance with court rulings on arrears.

These obligations cannot remain outstanding indefinitely," the union said in its resolutions. KMPDU is demanding full medical insurance coverage for all doctors under both national and county governments as well as payment of all outstanding dues owed by the Ministry of Health.

The union called for the annual recruitment of 3,000 doctors and the permanent absorption of interns into permanent and pensionable terms.

Delegates adopted positions on the Quality of Health and Patient Safety Bill (2025) and the Human Resource for Health policy. They also called for the repeal of Section 5A of the Universities Act. The resolutions emerged from the 10th Annual Delegates Conference, where delegates ratified leadership elected on 2 April 2026.

AllAfrica reported that the union indicated failure to implement the agreement will result in a disruption of hospital operations. In the same statement, KMPDU warned that without implementation of these agreements, hospitals are staring at a crisis. The system is already stretched, and any further delay will worsen service delivery, according to a senior delegate.

AllAfrica reported the conference took place against a backdrop of public hospitals already struggling with staffing shortages.