Pilots Throw Weight Behind Doctors As Strike Continues

The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacist and Dentists Union (KMPDU)'s relentless push to force the government to heed its demands during the ongoing doctors' strike has received support from other unions outside its field of focus, which now includes the aviation sector.

On Monday, April 8, KMPDU's leadership held a meeting with the Kenya Airline Pilots Association (KALPA) at the latter's offices in Rubani House, Nairobi.

Led by KMPDU Secretary General Davji Atellah, the two unions deliberated on mutual interests with the doctors' strike almost approaching a month old. 

The doctors' union appreciated the support from their pilot counterparts while aiming to champion the rights of all workers across the country and around the globe.

KALPA and KMPDU leaders during their meeting on April 8, 2024 at Rubani House, Nairobi. /X.KMPDU

"Today, we discussed mutual interests with KALPA's leadership amid the ongoing 26-day Doctors' strike. We are grateful for our Sister Union's solidarity, we stand together, recognizing its power in shaping global workers' strength," stated KMPDU which also shared photos of the meeting and a group photo with KALPA on X.

The meeting comes a day after the doctors' strike drew the attention of President William Ruto, who while speaking during a church service in Eldoret had asked the doctors to return to work and accept the government's payment terms.

Ruto therefore indicated that the State was willing to pay intern doctors Ksh70,000 as a stipend for a year instead of a monthly salary as he called for the end of the doctors' strike, an amount he said the government was able to offer because it was the only resource it could amass to bring an end to the strike.

At the same time, the Head of State affirmed that the country must adhere to austerity measures and though he valued the work of the medical professionals, it was important for the government not to spend money that isn't currently there.

"The resources we have are only sufficient to pay Ksh70,000 for intern doctors. It is not a salary, it is a stipend for one year and then they are employed," Ruto added.

"All our doctors and doctor interns will be taken in. That is why we are going to spend the resources we have to make sure that all the 1,500 doctors are absorbed at once. As a nation, we must live within our means."

There are fears however that the ongoing industrial action by the doctors coupled with the meeting between KMPDU and KALPA would motivate pilots to ignite their industrial action.

As events in November 2022 would tell you, any attempt by pilots to declare a strike and any subsequent standoff akin to the doctors and the government would lead to devastating consequences in the aviation sector in terms of all flight operations.

On November 4, passengers using national carrier Kenya Airways (KQ) from the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) were warned of adverse flight disruptions after KALPA threatened to go on strike the following morning.

The association, which represents about 400 pilots at the carrier, called for industrial action after failing to resolve a dispute over pension contributions and settlement of deferred pay.

The pilots' union only called off the strike after Employment and Labour Relations Court (ELRC) Judge Anna Mwaure ordered pilots to resume work on November 9, 2022, by 6 am.

With efforts by the government to halt the doctors' strike which has crippled major operations in the health sector, the government cannot afford to have a possible pilots' industrial action piling on its plate given its near inability to tame two protests at the same time.