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Striking doctors on Tuesday called on President William Ruto to intervene in their ongoing dispute with the Ministry of Health, which has crippled healthcare services in public hospitals for the past three weeks.
The Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Union (KMPDU) began their strike on March 14th, demanding the immediate posting of medical interns and full implementation of their 2017 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
“We are now at a point where only the President can resolve this matter,” said KMPDU Secretary General Davji Atellah at a press conference in Nairobi. Atellah emphasized that doctors will remain on strike until their demands are met.
President Ruto has remained silent on the doctors’ strike since its inception, with only his Chief of Staff attempting to mediate negotiations between the medics and the health ministry on March 21st. These talks, however, proved unsuccessful.
Atellah accused the health ministry of a “contemptuous attitude” during negotiations and expressed the union’s willingness to extend the strike for months if necessary.
“We are prepared to continue the strike for as long as it takes, even 100 or 200 days, until the government fulfills the CBA,” Atellah stated. “The government walked out on us, showing they don’t care about the duration of the strike, so we will mirror their approach.”
He denounced the government for the suffering of Kenyans due to the disrupted healthcare services. Atellah claimed that negotiations have been unproductive, with the ministry accused of disregarding court directives, using intimidation tactics, and refusing to compromise.
The situation worsened on Monday as clinical officers joined the doctors’ strike, further straining medical services in public hospitals nationwide.
Babu Owino to Sponsor Impeachment Motion of CS Nakhumicha
The Embakasi East Member of Parliament, Babu Owino, this week initiated the process to impeach Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha, citing gross violations of the constitution and incompetence. This decision comes against the backdrop of the ongoing doctors’ strike that has plunged Kenya’s healthcare system into disarray.
Owino, backed by the support of 111 fellow MPs, alleges that the protracted doctors’ strike, which commenced on March 15th, has inflicted severe harm on Kenyan citizens, depriving them of their fundamental right to healthcare. He contends that the strike has resulted in numerous fatalities and left countless others without access to vital medical services.
Speaking at a joint press conference alongside representatives from the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists, and Dentists Union (KMPDU), Owino issued a stern warning to the government, declaring that if the concerns of the striking doctors are not addressed promptly, MPs will join the industrial action.
“We don’t want government to demand, invite, don’t demand. When you push, we, KMPDU and MPs will push, when you pull, we’ll resist….when you demand we will refuse,” said Owino.
The doctors’ strike, led by the KMPDU representing over 7,000 members, revolves around demands for salary arrears, immediate recruitment of trainee doctors, and improved medical insurance coverage. These grievances stem from a 2017 collective bargaining agreement (CBA) and long-standing issues regarding salary delays and compensation for doctors engaged in higher education programs.
Despite the government’s recent efforts to address some of the concerns raised by the striking healthcare workers, including the expediting of intern postings and payment of basic salary arrears, the KMPDU remains resolute in its stance. The union asserts that the government’s proposals fall short of the commitments outlined in the 2017 CBA, signaling a deadlock in negotiations.
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