Court blocks Kiambu County Government from replacing sacked doctors

The Employment and Labour Relations Court has granted temporary relief to a group of Kiambu County doctors after issuing orders stopping the county government from hiring their replacements pending the outcome of a petition.

In her ruling, Lady Justice Hellen Wasilwa directed the county’s Chief Officer for Health and the County Public Service Board to suspend the ongoing recruitment process, terming the matter urgent until it is heard inter-parties on October 28, 2025.

“The application is certified urgent and allowed in terms of prayers B and C of the Notice of Motion,” read part of the order.

The petition was filed by Dr. Gathoni Njeri Muriithi, an obstetrician and gynecologist employed by the county, who accused the administration of unfairly dismissing and attempting to replace striking doctors in violation of labour laws.

Dr. Muriithi told the court that she was prompted to take legal action after discovering that the county had already shortlisted and interviewed candidates for specialist positions before the official application deadline of October 15, 2025, an action she described as irregular and opaque.

The controversy began in May 2025, when County Executive Committee Member for Health Elias Maina confirmed that an unspecified number of doctors who had failed to report to work had been terminated.

“We have started taking action against doctors who failed to report to work. A headcount is ongoing to establish those who absconded duty, and they will be replaced immediately,” Maina said at the time.

Court documents show that the county had invited applications for various positions within the Department of Health but allegedly moved ahead with interviews before the advertised timeline had lapsed. The petitioner argued that this amounted to a breach of procedural fairness and an attempt to sidestep ongoing disputes with medical staff.

The interim court orders now bar Kiambu County from recruiting new doctors until the petition is fully determined.

This latest ruling adds to a string of setbacks for the county government, which has been embroiled in frequent labour disputes with its health workers. In August, the court also halted the recruitment of 78 medical specialists following a separate petition by the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU), which challenged the county’s decision to advertise the positions amid an unresolved industrial dispute.

This latest directive underscores growing tensions between Kiambu’s health department and its medical workforce, even as the county struggles to stabilise service delivery in public hospitals.