Doctors and Nurses announce nationwide strike starting December 22
Health crisis looms as doctors and nurses in the country announce a looming strike starting Sunday, December 22, 2024
Health crisis looms as doctors and nurses in the country announce a looming strike starting Sunday, December 22, 2024.
In two separate press releases, the leadership of the nurses and that of the doctors have advised Kenyans to brace for yet another wave of strikes.
The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists, and Dentists Union (KMPDU) has threatened to begin a nationwide doctors’ strike on December 22, citing frustration over unmet promises by the government.
Speaking during a meeting with doctors in Kakamega County, KMPDU Secretary General Dr Davji Atella revealed that despite signing a return to work formula, their needs are still being ignored, forcing them to go back to the streets after calling off the strike in May 2024.
“We addressed the disdain, dishonesty, and disrespect with which the employer continues to handle our concerns. Court orders remain unheeded, return-to-work formulas (RTWF) are ignored, and CBAs are violated and dismantled,” Dr Atella revealed.
The union also decried the government’s contempt for court orders, particularly the judgment delivered on October 26, 2024, which validated the CBA on the remuneration package for medical interns.
On their part, the Kenya National Union of Nurses issued a 21-day strike notice, citing widespread discrimination and failure to meet earlier agreements.
The Union’s Secretary General, Seth Panyako, announced the ultimatum demanding the implementation of the 2021-2025 collective bargaining agreement signed in August 2024.
The nurses are also demanding the employment of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) staff on permanent and pensionable terms.
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“Our being silent and not disturbing this government is being taken for granted, and we are being looked at as cowards. We cannot allow UHC staff to continue being paid peanuts. They must be put on permanent and pensionable,” Panyako revealed.
According to Panyako, the lack of uniformity in salaries across counties is leading to disparities within the profession.
“The CBA directly affects and should be implemented for all staff who are deemed seconded. All nurses were seconded, so they should have immediately benefitted from the current CBA as well as the 17-tire grading structure,” Panyako continued.
Under the 2021-2025 CBA, nurses were to have their risk allowance and uniform allowance by Ksh5,000, with further increments expected in subsequent CBAs.
Other issues raised by the nurses included rights, job classification, and employment conditions.
If the strike is implemented, this means Kenyans will be going into Christmas without medical services.
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