Crisis Looms As Doctors Issue Countrywide Strike Notice

The Kenya Medical Practitioners Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) on Monday, March 4 issued a seven-day notice for a nationwide strike, a move which is likely to paralyse the health sector.

In a notice, the medical practitioners insisted that they would not return to work until the government honours six of their demands.

These include promotion, medical cover, internship posting, postgraduate fee payment, study leaves and pension, terms which KMPDU deemed irreducible minimums.

KMPDU SG Davji Atellah during protests in Nairobi on Thursday, February 29, 2024. /KMPDU

"We hereby issue a 7-day notice for a nationwide strike. Irreducible minimums include promotion, medical cover, internship posting, postgraduate fee payment, study leaves and pension," stated KMPDU while sharing a two-minute video clip promoting the incoming strike.

KMPDU Deputy Secretary General Dennis Miskellah noted that the decision to issue a strike notice followed a closed-door meeting with the national advisory committee.

He explained that the strike was scheduled for June but the blatant disregard by the government and the Ministry of Health has informed the latest decision.

Miskellah indicated that following the lapse of the seven-day notice, the doctors will down their tools beginning Sunday, March 9.

"The procession will start from KMA offices, assemble at Green Park terminus and then proceed to present petitions and seek answers from the aforementioned offices. Nairobi regional office has already been informed for the purposes of providing security to health workers as they exercise their right to assemble, picket, demonstrate and preset petitions to public offices," part of the statement reads.

According to the doctors’, they were already on a go-slow which was expected to culminate in a protest at the Treasury and the Ministry of Health offices. 

The medics are also protesting the aggravated assault on KMPDU Secretary General Davji Atellah as well as injuries sustained by 25 interns during protests on February 29.

Central Organization of Trade Unions Kenya (COTU) Secretary General Francis Atwoli in response directed Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki to take action against police officers who attacked the KMPDU members during the protests.

"The brutal actions taken by the Kenyan police against Dr Davji Attella during a peaceful assembly are not only regrettable but also a flagrant violation of the spirit of the Kenyan Constitution, for which COTU (K) tirelessly fought to ensure the protection of workers' rights," read the statement in part.

"We demand an unconditional and immediate apology from the Ministry of Interior and Coordination of National Government for the unprovoked attack on Dr Davji Attella. Furthermore, we call for a thorough investigation into this incident and urge that appropriate action be taken against the officer(s) responsible for this reprehensible act."

On Sunday, the Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN) stated that if the doctor's issues were not solved they would join them in downing the tools, a move which could grind the health sector in totality to a halt.

Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN) members during past protests in Kisii. /CGTN AFRICA