It’s almost a month since doctor’s strike began, with their demands falling right into deaf ears of the Ministry of Health.
Thousands of Kenyans who are seeking medical attention from government facilities only find deserted hospitals, opting to go to private hospitals which are often expensive.
What does the Doctors Want?
Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentist Union (KMPDU) demands the government to honor the 2017 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
Among Doctor’s demands before they resume to work includes immediate hiring of trainee doctors, reinstatement of intern doctor’s salaries, payment of salary arrears, promotion of doctors among other demands.
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The doctor’s union demands that interns must be paid Ksh150,000 a month, contrary to what the ministry of health which seeks to pay them Ksh45,000 to Ksh70,000 per month.
KMPD on Thursday accused the ministry of Health for being non-committed to end the strikes.
According to KMPDU’s the government representatives walked out of the negotiation, a move that they describe as non-committal and that the government “didn’t have any plans or any arrangement to actually agree” with them.
KMPDU says they have reduced their demands from 19 to 10 but the government is yet to make any offers, meaning “they don’t care.”
Tuesday protests
Next week Tuesday, the doctors plans to stage huge protest beginning at Kenyatta National Hospital to Ministry of Health Headquarters before proceeding to the Ministry of Finance and finally ending the protests at the offices of council of governors.
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In a letter seen by JEDCA MEDIA, KMPDU informed Nairobi Regional Commander Adamson Bungei that they will be demonstrating on Tuesday, 9th of April in Nairobi and asked the police to ensure their safety as their protests are peaceful.
President’s silence
While Doctor’s strike is almost clocking a month, President William Ruto has kept quiet about the issue with other leaders calling out to his government to solve the stalemate.
Wiper Leader Kalonzo Musyoka has called on National Government to solve the issues saying that poor Kenyans including doctors are suffering as a result of the strikes.
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The council of governors (COG) have said that the they want the 2017 CBA to be relooked arguing that it has unreasonable demands.
The council says the CBA was signed in 2017 before elections thus not reflecting the current regimes views. Additionally, the COG asked the doctors to engage governors to solve the strike instead of denying Kenyans health care services.
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