Doctors from the North Rift region have issued a strong warning to both the national and county governments over what they term as deliberate neglect of the healthcare sector, failed policy implementation, and continued violation of the 2017 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
Speaking during the North Rift KMPDU Annual General Meeting (AGM) held in Eldoret, Branch Secretary Dr. Kamonzi Mulei and Chairperson Dr. Darwin Ambuka painted a grim picture of healthcare delivery in the country, accusing both levels of government of frustrating doctors and failing to prioritize quality and affordable healthcare for Kenyans.
Doctors Fed Up With Boardroom Negotiations
Dr. Kamonzi Mulei noted that doctors are growing increasingly frustrated by endless meetings and negotiations that bear no fruit, especially regarding the 2017 CBA.
“We are tired of sitting in boardrooms discussing the implementation of an agreement that was already signed. The government has refused to honor its commitments, and we are forced to keep engaging with leaders who are not willing to listen or act,” said Dr. Mulei.
He lamented that both the national and county governments have deliberately failed to make the public healthcare system functional.
“There is a calculated decline in the health sector. Doctors are working without adequate resources, and patients are being pushed into private care because public facilities cannot cope,” he said.
SHA Under Fire
The new Social Health Authority (SHA), which replaced the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF), also came under heavy criticism from the union. According to Dr. Mulei, SHA is already failing to deliver on its promise.
“We warned that if SHA is not implemented properly and the recommendations we gave ignored, it will collapse — and today we’ve been proven right. SHA was rushed down our throats, and now public and mission facilities are suffering because claims are not being paid in full or on time,” he said.
He questioned how facilities are expected to survive under the current system, warning that if SHA continues failing to meet its financial obligations, many health centers will shut down.
“What is the point of asking Kenyans to use their SHA cards when facilities aren’t being reimbursed? Services will stall, and the people will have nowhere to run,” Mulei warned.
He further criticized the Sh900 per member capitation from the Treasury, calling it “a drop in the ocean.”
“Have we done proper costing to understand what it takes to offer a single procedure? Without clear figures and deliberate funding, SHA will not work,” he said.
Ready to Strike Over CBA and Welfare Issues
The North Rift doctors resolved that they will no longer wait for empty promises. According to Dr. Mulei, any time an issue affecting the CBA arises in any of the counties in the region, they will not hesitate to call for industrial action.
“We have agreed unanimously — if a county fails to address our welfare, we will strike. It’s only when doctors down their tools that counties respond. Why must we resort to strikes for our issues to be addressed? Doctors deserve better,” he said.
Leadership Changes Not the Solution — Ambuka
Echoing these concerns, KMPDU North Rift Chairperson Dr. Darwin Ambuka accused the national government of resorting to constant reshuffling of Cabinet Secretaries instead of tackling systemic healthcare issues.
“In just a short span, we’ve seen CS Susan Nakhumicha replaced by Debra Mulongo, who was quickly succeeded by Aden Duale. Changing faces at the Ministry is not the solution to our problems,” Ambuka stated.
He noted that meaningful reform must be policy-driven, not personality-driven.
“Healthcare is a structured system. It must follow clear policies and implementation frameworks. Until we respect that order, no amount of reshuffling will change anything,” said Ambuka.
Ambuka also stressed that doctors from the seven counties in the North Rift region are unified and will no longer remain silent as healthcare systems deteriorate.
Call to Action
The union called on both the national and county governments to urgently convene meaningful discussions with doctors and healthcare unions. They urged leaders to stop politicizing the health sector and instead focus on fully implementing the CBA, improving service delivery, and reforming the SHA scheme.
“If we do not act now, the healthcare crisis will spiral out of control,” said Dr. Mulei. “This country deserves a healthcare system that is not only affordable, but functional and humane. Doctors are not asking for luxury — we are asking for dignity and the tools to serve the people.”
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