Thrown under the bus? Medical interns biggest losers as doctors end strike

Despite calling off a 56-day strike by doctors, questions have been floated on why payment of interns has remained unsolved despite being termed as a "non-negotiable" matter by the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU).

Since March 6, 2024, when the nationwide doctor's strike commenced, the posting of more medical interns and increasing their pay was one of the key bones of contention as doctors vowed not to return to their respective postings until the debacle was met.

At the time KMPDU Secretary General Davji Atellah said that doctors deserve a monthly stipend of Ksh.206,000 as guided by the 2017 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).

The government then released Ksh.2.4 billion to cater to salary arrears and posting of interns which proposed a monthly stipend of Ksh.70,000 for each intern.

KMPDU and other unions lashed back at the offer, maintaining that they will not take the deal and will remain on the streets.

President William Ruto scoffed at the decision noting that the government must live within its means as it tries to tame a ballooning wage bill.

Ruto's sentiments were echoed by government Spokesperson Isaac Mwaura and the acting Director General for Health Dr Patrick Amoth.

When the deal to call off the strike was inked on May 8, 2024, the internship matter seemed to have been dealt a low blow as the matter was not amicably agreed upon.

The government said that the matter is a subject of the Labour Relations Court of Kenya at Eldoret and the matter is therefore held in suspension until it is determined.

Despite KMPDU not agreeing to that, they agreed that the parties would commence and conclude negotiations on the issue within 60 days.

“One of the fundamental issues, that is the matter of doctor interns was filed in court Eldoret, and has been part of the conversations but we could not come to a particular agreement. The union was of the opinion that the interns must be posted immediately as per the CBA, while the government was of the opinion that we have to await the court litigation that is ongoing in Eldoret before we come to an agreement,” said Atellah.

“We have a joint caveat that is going on, and all the doctor interns – medical officers, pharmacists and dentists – will have to wait a little bit longer. We have agreed on a 60-day period that they will not be posted, but we will be having conversations on this issue.”

"60 more days is disheartening. I'm sorry, but this is so unfair to medical interns.Especially those whose internship deployment has been delayed for over 10 months. That's a whole calendar year wasted. Love and light to doctor interns," wrote X user Manyala after the announcement. 

Another user, Danson Mukile opined; "KMPDU was using the medical intern issue as a smokescreen! How come the issue of interns remains unresolved despite them telling the whole country that 18 issues that had been agreed upon would rather be taken away than disregarding the needs of interns?"

"One can honestly feel how frustrated the intern doctors are. Its a mixture of grief and anger and depression. May is mental health awareness month and we should be educating the public but it's these young doctors who are deep in the pits. My heart weeps for us," stated Shirley Ogalo.