Public officers to join doctors in weekly protests

Dr Charles Mukhwaya-General Secretary (TUC-Ke) and Secretary(KUSU), Tom Odege-Secretary General (UKCS), and Simon Sang-Secretary General Dock Workers Union address the press at the University Academic Staff Union (UASU) head office on April 29, 2024. [Robert Tomno, Standard]

Public sector workers will from today join striking medics as their leaders protest against what they call the emasculation of trade unions by the government. 

The decision to call for demonstrations that will be happening every Tuesday has been informed by the recent arm-twisting by the government that has seen doctors’ 2017-2021 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) being disregarded.  

Additionally, Public Service Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria’s proposal to scrap permanent and pensionable positions for government workers has irked unions.  

Charles Mukhwaya, the General Secretary Trade Union Congress of Kenya (TUC-Ke) and Secretary General Kenya Universities Staff Union (Kusu) said the pronouncements are an attack on labour laws which are anchored by global bodies like the International Labour Organisation (ILO). 

“These reckless utterances are likely to cause unnecessary panic, anxiety, low morale and reduced productivity,” said Mukhwaya at a press conference yesterday.  

He demanded that the government stops roadside declarations and engage unions in constructive dialogue.  

Mukhwaya insisted that the government respects not only the doctors’ CBA but all contracts entered into by public servants.  

Mukhwaya was flanked by officials from Kenya Medical Practitioners Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU), Kenya National Union of Nurses (Knun), Kenya Union of Clinical Officers (Kuco), Universities Academic Staff Union (Uasu), Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut), Kenya Union of Post Primary Teachers Union (Kuppet), Dock Workers Union (DWU) and Union of Kenya Civil Servants (UKCS). 

The union leaders claimed workers have been rendered destitute by the State owing to the increase in taxes citing enhanced Social Health Insurance Fund, housing levy and Pay As You Earn (PAYE). 

“So many emoluments that go to workers are taxed twice,” said Simon Arap Sang, DWU General Secretary.  

Tom Odege, Secretary General UKCS, said the utterances made by CS Kuria is a sign President William Ruto’s Cabinet is running wild.  

Uasu Secretary General Constantine Wesonga assured public servants that their employment terms cannot be changed through roadside declarations.

Kuco General Secretary George Gibore said the government is running away from accountability.  

“The frustration doctors are going through is not unique to them these unions have CBAs and, the government violating (our CBA) is a clear indication that even theirs will not be respected,” said KMPDU Secretary General Davji Atellah.