KMPDU announces total shutdown of Machakos hospitals over unpaid doctors' salaries

The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists, and Dentists Union (KMPDU) has threatened to paralyze operations in all hospitals in Machakos if the county continues to ignore the striking medics' cry.

KMPDU Secretary General Dr. Davji Atellah, speaking while at the Machakos Level 5 Hospital on Tuesday, announced that due to the ignorance of the Machakos County government, they had ordered all doctors who were giving minimal services as ordered by the court to fully withdraw their services.

Dr. Atellah insisted that the county government had ignored the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) and added salt to the injury by withholding two months’ salary of the doctors who were on strike.

He affirmed that if the county government does not comply with their agreement by next week, they will recall all doctors to stage a demonstration following months of unresolved strikes.

“As of today, we are going to ask doctors who have been offering minimal services in these facilities, including the medical superintendent, that there is a need to completely down tools and to shut down facilities. We need to get out so that the county acts,” he said.

"Next week on Tuesday, December 18th, the Machakos County doctors will be demonstrating to show their displeasure with the management of this county because it is not right, fair and justifiable to hold the money owed to doctors and to implement court orders directed towards a public officer.”

The doctors’ union boss noted that they were not on strike per se but wanted their rights given and thus the county was the one on strike by not paying them.

Dr. Atellah criticized the county for failing to implement the CBA,which has been pending for seven years now, adding that Machakos County owes medics Ksh.62 million, while the national government owes them Ks. 3.5 billion.

“Machakos County joins other 47 counties countrywide which have not implemented or honoured the critical components of CBA ensuring an increment of wages for the doctors in July, August, September, October, November and December. It is critical that the money owed to doctors reflects in the accounts of doctors,” he said.

"The national strike that is meant to commence on December 22, Machakos will be part of it if it does not comply. If we got for the national strike and the county still does not pay wages owed to doctors, the Machakos County doctors will still remain out.”

Meanwhile, Machakos Governor Wavinya Ndeti read a sinister motive in the medics’ strike saying it is politically instigated.

A spot check at the facility revealed deserted wards, with patients turning to private facilities for medical attention.

Recently, Machakos County Secretary Muya Ndambuki criticized the medics' strike as unlawful.