NAIROBI, Kenya — Doctors across Kenya are set to receive long-awaited salary increments after the implementation of the 3rd and 4th Remuneration Review Cycles and long-pending adjustments under the 2017–2024 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
The development follows months of pressure from the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU), which had raised concerns over delayed salary reviews and arrears owed to both county and national government doctors.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, February 15, KMPDU Secretary General Davji Atellah confirmed progress in unlocking delays that had stalled implementation of the 3rd Remuneration Review Cycle.
“During our consultative meeting held on 19th December 2024, the Chairperson of the Council of Governors, Ahmed Abdullahi, confirmed that implementation would begin once funds were secured,” Atellah said.
County governments had initially failed to implement the 3rd review cycle at the start of the July 2024 financial year, citing funding constraints within the Equitable Share allocation from the National Treasury. The stalemate had heightened tensions between doctors and county administrations, with medics warning of possible industrial action.
Following the allocation of Sh2 billion within the Equitable Share to cater for personal emoluments, counties have now begun rolling out the pending 3rd Remuneration Review Cycle covering the 2021/22–2024/25 period. Doctors under county governments will receive arrears since the cycle was due in the 2024/2025 financial year, but had not been implemented.
Counties are currently factoring the adjustments into supplementary budgets to align payrolls with updated salary scales issued by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC), the constitutional body mandated under Article 230 of the Constitution to set and review remuneration for state and public officers.
However, uncertainty remains over the 4th Remuneration Review Cycle covering 2025 to 2029. KMPDU noted that SRC is yet to issue official implementation guidelines, pending formal instructions.
At the national level, the Ministry of Health has already processed payments under the 3rd cycle and is working toward implementing the 4th cycle.
In addition to SRC review cycles, doctors are also set to receive long-delayed basic salary adjustments under the 2017–2024 CBA. Implementation of the CBA had stalled for months, triggering nationwide industrial action earlier this year over unpaid dues and unmet terms.
KMPDU revealed that the government has now released funds for the CBA adjustments, and the payroll system has been recalibrated to ensure accurate salary computation. The union added that it is working with relevant agencies to correct errors identified in earlier salary calculations to ensure full compliance.
Meanwhile, arrears for Ministry of Health doctors’ basic salaries and call allowances have been provided for in a supplementary budget expected to be tabled in Parliament in March. Payment is planned for the 2025/2026 financial year.
Arrears related to the 2024/2025 CBA have also been included in the supplementary budget and are expected to be paid within the current financial year.
