Why doctors called off industrial strike

Kenya Medical Practitioners Pharmacists Dentists Union(KMPDU) Secretary General Dr. Davji Bhimji Atellah addressing the media at their Head office in Nairobi on December 19th, 2022. [Boniface Okendo, Standard]

A countrywide doctor's strike scheduled for today, Friday, January 6, was yesterday called off by the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU).

The strike was suspended after the government agreed to review the 2017-2022 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).

In the agreement, the government has a period of 60 days until March 6, 2023.

Some of the doctors grievances are; basic salary adjustments, creation of call rooms, posting of 800 medical interns, employment of more doctors and provision of working tools.

Speaking during an interview on Spice FM on Friday, KMPDU secretary general Davji Atella said the government had agreed to post the first batch of 200 interns across the country next week and 200 more by March.

Davji added that the government had also agreed to paying salaries to the doctors by the 5th of every month.

"In our suspension of the strike, we considered the Kenyan. We thought as a union that it was not vital or important to take Kenyans through the pain they experience when doctors are striking," said Davji.

Davji, however, warned that the doctors would go on a strike if their grievances are not met.

"We have to be alive to the fact that doctors who offer these services in hospitals are human beings and they need to pay the bills," said Davji.

He added; "If the government considers this as a critical service and nothing has been done in 60 days, the workers will then uphold these services that they need to offer."