No end in sight for doctors' strike as KMPDU faults Nakhumicha for solving issues politically

Speaking on Sunday in Nakuru, the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) Secretary General Dr. Davji Atellah said the strike will continue as the government has not shown any commitment to meeting their demands.

The doctors accused Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha of solving the strike issue on political rallies, instead of working to end it. 

"We gave them a strike notice on 6th March and up to 13th we did not have any meeting to solve our issues. We held a meeting on 18th and the government had not prepared anything, she told us we are there to comply with the court orders. They told us the CBA had to be redone, the letter from the ministry reducing remuneration of the interns by 91%," Atellah said.

He, however, maintained that the striking doctors' demands remain the same. They include; posting medical interns to right job group, implementation of the basic salary component in the CBA, comprehensive medical cover for doctor's, post graduate training and paying for post graduate doctors, and employment of the over 50,000 doctor's yet to be employed. 

Atellah said that the doctors will protest in Nakuru, Kakamega, Embu, Nairobi and Eldoret this coming week as they agitate for the changes. 

"No amount of intimidation will stop us, we went on strike for 100 days for the CBA. We cannot demean ourselves for political rhetoric. They are acting like they do not understand these issues but we will continue with the strike," Atellah asserted. 

Turning to governors, he said that any governor who is intimidating medics should first pay their basic salary arrears and help the doctors to push for the national government to release money to the counties. 

Atellah regretted the dire situation in public hospitals where patients are being turned away but said the strike is the only way for doctors to negotiate with the government.

He said they are ready for talks when the government finds a solution.