Medics threaten to strike over unpaid salaries, again

KMPDU Secretary Genaral Davji Atella (right) alongside Kenya Union of Clinical Officers Secreatry General, George Gibore during a press conference in Nairobi. [Edward Kiplimo, Standard]

Health workers, including doctors, nurses, clinical officers, and dentists have threatened to strike if counties fail to honor their Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBA).

Speaking on Thursday, September 5, the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists, and Dentists Union (KMPDU) Secretary-General Davji Atella demanded that salaries be paid within two weeks.

Failure to do so, he warned, would result in an industrial action.

Some counties, Atella noted, have not paid health workers their salaries for June, July, and August.

"Healthcare workers are struggling financially. They can't pay rent or afford fuel to get to work. Things cannot continue as usual when those expected to be in hospitals are being ignored," the SG said.

KMPDU has now given counties a 14-day ultimatum to provide comprehensive medical coverage for health workers and to remit all withheld statutory deductions.

If these demands are not met, Atella warned that doctors, nurses, clinical officers, lab technicians, morticians, and public health officers would strike in protest.

This warning comes a day after the Ministry of Health announced plans to work with the Council of Governors (CoG) to prevent strikes.

"We are addressing the CBA, especially in terms of resources, and given the current fiscal period, I believe we can resolve the issue," said Health CS Deborah Barasa during a meeting with the Council of Governors health committee.

The nationwide doctors strike ended on May 8 after medics came into an agreement with the Ministry of Health to resolve their issues including the implementation of the 2017 CBA, and the recruitment of intern doctors.