Siaya doctors begin strike over delayed promotions

Doctors in Siaya have downed their tools accusing the county government of failing to implement a raft of promises from a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) that was signed two years ago.

Chairman of the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) Nyanza branch Dr. Steve Ndong’a said the doctors have downed their tools following the county government’s blatant disregard to commitments which had been agreed upon.

Speaking when he announced the commencement of the doctors’ strike at the Siaya County Referral Hospital on Wednesday, Dr. Ndong’a cited continued delays in the promotion and re-designation of their specialist doctors.

“Our key grievances are promotion and re-designation, lack of health insurance and severe shortage of personnel that has placed an enormous strain on our existing workforce. This not only compromises the quality of care that citizens of Siaya County are getting, but also endangers the lives and safety of our doctors and healthcare staff,” he stated.

He added that absence of comprehensive health insurance for their healthcare workers and severe shortage of medical personnel is also a great concern since their members work under strenuous conditions that also put their health at risk.

The KMPDU Nyanza branch Chairman noted that this has put an enormous strain on the existing workforce thereby compromising the quality of care provided to patients.

Dr. Ndong’a stated that they have exhausted all the diplomatic avenues to resolve those issues but the county government’s failure to act has left them with no alternative but to down their tools, saying that the strike shall continue until their grievances are addressed and resolved satisfactorily.

“Despite numerous efforts, countless appeals, the Siaya County government has failed to honour the CBA and return to work formula signed between the county government and KMPDU. This blatant disregard of agreed upon commitments has left us with no choice but to take decisive action,” he added.

“We have exhausted all diplomatic avenues to solve this strike. Unfortunately, the county government has failed to act and has left us with no alternative but to resort to industrial action. Effective immediately, our members withdraw their services until our grievances are resolved satisfactorily.”

This comes as doctors at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) in Eldoret also issued a strike notice over the facility’s failure to honor the 2017 and 2021 CBAs, alongside other pressing welfare concerns.

KMPDU National Secretary General Dr. Davji Atellah accused the hospital of perpetuating unfair labor practices such as irregular employment contracts, denial of leave, lack of medical cover, stagnation in career progression, and withholding gratuities and pensions for affected doctors.