Doctors hold protests in Nakuru, vow to keep off hospitals until demands are met

Doctors from the South Rift region on Tuesday held demonstrations in Nakuru town, stating that they shall not return to work utill their demands are met.

The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists, and Dentists Union (KMPDU) Secretary General for the South Rift Region Dr. Stephen Omondi led the peaceful demonstrations, demanding that the government implement the 2017 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) and post interns to hospitals.

“These interns are qualified doctors, and they work in our hospitals. They offer about 30% of the services in our facilities,” he said.

Omondi dismissed the new salary proposals for interns, stating that the agreed-upon salaries have been listed in the CBA that is yet to be implemented.

“If these interns won't be posted and paid as indicated in the CBA, this strike will go on,” he said.

He cited their other demands such as medical cover for doctors, urging the government to solve the impasse quickly as patients seeking medical care in public hospitals continue to suffer.

Medical services have been paralyzed in public hospitals countrywide for 13 days following the ongoing doctor's strike as talks between the Ministry of Health and KMPDU have yielded no fruits.