Doctors to down tools from midnight

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]

The Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentist Union has issued a nationwide strike notice effective today at midnight.

KMPDU Secretary-General Davji Atellah, in a statement on Wednesday, March 13, said the decision was arrived at owing to a lack of consensus with the government on issues affecting healthcare workers across the country.

Atellah said that despite their previous seven days' strike notice, the government has relented on addressing the plight of healthcare workers.

"Regrettably, the government has shown a lack of willingness to address these pressing concerns, leaving healthcare workers in a state of frustration and dismay. Therefore, it is with great disappointment that we announce the commencement of a nationwide strike starting from midnight today March 13, 2024," said the Sec-Gen.

The KMPDU boss blamed the government for its reluctance in finding a solution, despite their being a dialogue and negotiations.

"Within the seven days of the strike notice, the union has expressed a willingness to engage in a Dialogue. However, all we have witnessed is a lack of seriousness from the government coupled with a conspicuous absence of goodwill," he added.

The medics had earlier threatened to down their tools if the 2017 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) is not implemented.

The union had also demanded a refund of the deducted housing levy, terming it unconstitutional and illegal.

The union has also called for the conversion of the employment terms of the 113 medical officers hired by Nairobi County under discriminatory contractual terms to permanent and pensionable terms.