54pc of Kenyans do not support doctors’ strike: TIFA poll

A majority of Kenyans do not support the ongoing doctors’ strike which entered its 50th day on Thursday, a new poll by research firm TIFA shows.

According to the poll conducted between April 27 and April 29, the public’s backing of the medic’s strike is weak, with 54 per cent not supporting it “at all.”

Twenty-three per cent of respondents said they support the strike “a lot” while 19 per cent support it “a little”.

“Such opposition is highest in the South Rift and Lower Eastern,” TIFA said.

The poll further found out that the strike has gained the most attention in the Mt. Kenya and Western regions, with the Western region having the highest proportion of individuals directly affected by the absence of medical practitioners from medical facilities.

Kenyans blame Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha most for the strike, according to the survey.

Asked who they think is most responsible for the prolonged medical workers’ strike in the country, 47 per cent of respondents said CS, Nakhumicha, while 28 per cent said Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Union (KMPDU).

Eight per cent blamed county governments; five per cent faulted the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC); while the Council of Governors and Head of Public Service Felix Koskei took one per cent of the blame each.

“There is no mention of the leadership of the previous (Jubilee) administration that was a party to the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) the failure of which to implement was the main/initial basis for the first of the several strikes now in place,” said TIFA.

TIFA interviewed 2,912 respondents nationally through telephonic interviews conducted mainly in Kiswahili.

Since March 14, the doctors have abandoned their duty stations and have been protesting the government’s failure to post medical interns and obey a 2017 CBA on doctors’ labour terms.

The government has presented a Ksh.70,000 offer for the medical interns in place of the Ksh.206,000 set in the CBA, which the doctors have turned down.

President William Ruto however maintains that the government cannot meet all their demands wholly due to financial constraints.