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State threatens to fire striking doctors after talks hit snag

Anne Waiguru, governor of Kirinyaga County and chair of the Council of Governors (CoG), addresses a press conference on the doctors' strike at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) in Nairobi on April 23, 2024. (Photo: Barack Oduor)

By Farhiya Hussein and Barack Oduor | 23 Apr 2024

Government officials say they are heading to court to seek clearance to have all the medics fired and replaced.

The national and county governments threatened on Tuesday to fire and replace all striking doctors as the push and pull for them to return to work to end a worsening health crisis continued.

The medical workers resorted to industrial action on March 15, 2024, in a push for, among others, higher pay, improved working conditions, internship postings for medical graduates and fulfilment of the collective bargaining agreement that followed a 100-day strike in 2017.

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On Monday, the Council of Governors (CoG), through chair Anne Waiguru, and the national government, through Head of Public Service Felix Koskei, told a press conference that they were heading to court to seek clearance to have the striking medics fired.

"We want a new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) negotiated because doctors are not acting in good faith," said Waiguru, the governor of Kirinyaga County.

She described the doctors' moves as "arm-twisting tactics" to force county and national government officials to give in to their demands.

"We want doctors to go back to work within 24 hours or the parties here will be at liberty to take any action they deem fit," the CoG chair said.

Head of Public Service Felix Koskei addresses a press conference on the doctors' strike at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) in Nairobi on April 23, 2024. (Photo: Barack Oduor)

The leaders further accused the doctors of being insensitive to suffering Kenyans.

"This is unacceptable. Counties are urged to take appropriate action as deemed fit to ensure healthcare is back in counties," Waiguru said.

Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha said the government was set to review its engagement of interns, one of the key issues raised by the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU), which instigated the industrial action that began on March 15.

"For interns, we have Sh2.4 billion up to June. Thereafter, it will not be available," Nakhumicha said, explaining that the offer of a Sh70,000 monthly payment remained. Medical interns, who had staged their own protests before March 15, have rejected this officer, saying they want about Sh200,000.

Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha addresses a press conference on the doctors' strike at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) in Nairobi on April 23, 2024. (Photo: Barack Oduor)

Nakhumicha said, "We will ask our council to appeal to the court to allow us to make decisions that will see Kenyans enjoy healthcare."

Public Service Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria said he would push for all government workers to be hired on contract, not permanent terms, to prevent situations like the doctors' strike.

"We are all going to be on contracts because we must focus on service delivery," he said, adding that he had instructed payroll officers not to remit dues to unions to starve them of funds for operations.