The Kenya Medical Practitioners Pharmacists Dentists Union (KPMDU) has issued a warning to escalate the current doctors’ strike if the government fails to meet their demands. KPMDU representatives, headed by Secretary General Dr. Davji Atella, convened with doctors in Eldoret and affirmed their unwavering stance on the matter.
“In fact, if they continue to play games and politics with this issue then we will scale up things and remain on strike as long as the government wants,” he said.
Atellah alleged that certain governors have ceased payment of doctors’ salaries in an attempt to intimidate them. In response, the governors have stated that the contentious 2017 collective bargaining agreement, which medical professionals are advocating for, should undergo review.
However, Atella contended that the agreement was duly signed and should be implemented without alterations.
“To the governors who are playing public relations with healthcare and withdrawing our pay, we are telling them just keep the money. We will not be intimidated at all.”
He stated that prior to the strike, doctors had presented 19 demands to the government, none of which had been addressed. Atella emphasised that it was the government’s responsibility to attend to the plight of patients in hospitals.
He insisted that the delayed 2017 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) must be enforced, and discussions for a new agreement should commence before doctors return to work.
