'Honour your promises!' KMPDU piles pressure on Gov't ahead of December 22 strike

The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) has reaffirmed its plans to begin a nationwide doctors’ strike on December 22, citing frustration over unmet promises by the government.

KMPDU Secretary General Dr. Davji Atella announced the decision during a meeting with doctors in Kakamega, held at the county’s referral hospital, emphasizing that the government's failure to meet its commitments to the medics is the reason for the strike.

The doctors are protesting a range of issues, including poor working conditions, delayed salary payments and pay cuts, particularly for medical interns.

"We addressed the disdain, dishonesty, and disrespect with which the employer continues to handle our concerns. Court orders remain unheeded, Return-to-work formulas (RTWF) are ignored, CBAs are violated and dismantled," said Dr. Atellah in a subsequent statement.

"The fraternity has had enough. Deliberations concluded with a resounding, united call to action: We strike today, not tomorrow. From midnight, December 22, 2024, we are taking to the streets and staying at home. This is no longer the time for hollow boardroom negotiations and counterstrategies. We demand the government honours its promises and implements our agreements."

Efforts to resolve these grievances have not bore fruit, leaving the union with no option but to proceed with the industrial action, raising concerns about the disruption of healthcare services across the country during the festive period.

KMPDU initially issued the nationwide strike notice on December 10 expressing frustration over what it termed ongoing neglect by the government in enacting the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) signed with the medics.

"The national and county governments have totally disregarded our agreements. It is an extraordinary time when promises and agreements are not honored and mean nothing, a time when Collective Bargaining Agreement that has been honored and respected for over 7 years can be bastardized by one government directive," Dr. Atellah said then.

The union also decried the government's contempt for court orders, particularly the judgment delivered on October 26, 2024, which validated the CBA on the remuneration package for medical interns.

According to the KMPDU boss, while the public continues to suffer from poor medical care at public facilities, coupled with inadequate medical supplies, delays in enacting the CBA have led to a dwindling number of healthcare workers, with those remaining being severely overworked.