‘Occupy MoH’: Medics camp outside Afya House at night to protest intern posting

Medics camped outside the Ministry of Health headquarters at Afya House, Nairobi on Monday night after a day of protests to pressure the government to post medical interns in line with the 2017 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).

The health workers spent most of Monday picketing outside the Health Ministry headquarters at Upper Hill and in the evening, they lit candles and flashlights to continue with the protest into the night despite the light showers experienced in the city.

Videos shared on social media showed the medical officers singing the national anthem while waving Kenyan flags and placards.

‘Nakhumicha must go!’, several placards read, referring to Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha.

Other health workers were seen lying in camping sleeping bags outside the premises.

Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) Secretary General Davji Atellah previously said that the union has been holding a series of meetings to implement the return-to-work formula at Kenyatta National Hospital and the Ministry of Health.

According to Atellah, the internship posting debacle was to be resolved within 60 days as per the 2017 CBA.

"As we all know, the 60 days end on the 7th of July 2024. So far we are in agreement with the Ministry of Health that interns must be posted as per CBA 2017 before the lapse of the 60-day negotiation window as per our Return to Work Formula," Atellah said then.

"The Ministry of Health is to have an engagement with Treasury before our final meeting set for Thursday, 4th July 2024."