Medics begin nationwide strike over delay in posting of interns
Among the other concerns include the shooting of KMPDU Secretary General Davji Atellah on Thursday last week.
The Kenya Medical Practitioners Pharmacists Dentists Union (KMPDU) on Monday began peaceful protests due to delays in calling for the posting of medics interns among other issues.
KMPDU Deputy Secretary General Dennis Miskellah said the procession will begin from the Kenya Medical Association (KMA) auditorium at Upper Hill, Nairobi.
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The Health workers will then proceed to present their petitions to the Ministry of Health, Council of Governors, Senate, National Assembly, Public Service Commission, the Treasury and the Ministry of Interior.
“We will protest the way our leader has been treated and how 25 interns were hurt last week. So let’s turn up and those in the other branches do the same,” Miskellah said.
Medics on Monday began peaceful protests due to delays in calling for the posting of medics interns. (Photo: Amnesty Kenya)
At the same time, the Unionnissued a seven-day nationwide strike notice if their demands will still not be met.
The seven-day nationwide strike will start on March 10, 2024.
“The issue on the interns cannot be negotiated. We had the CBA and the Minister cannot purport that she will change the rules on the payment of interns. Interns are the backbone of our healthcare system. We had intended to do this strike in June but they have made us bring it forward,” Miskellah added.
Irreducible minimums
Among other issues the health workers want addressed include; irreducible minimums including promotion, medical cover, internship posting, postgraduate fee payment, study leaves, pension, recent alleged assault on KMPDU Secretary General Davji Atellah on Thursday last week, delays in the conclusion of the 2023-26 Collective Bargaining Agreements and reported failure by the ministry to sign recognition agreements.
The right to protest is enshrined in the Constitution of Kenya. Kenyan medics are exercising this right that, calling for the #postmedicalinterns. #ProtectTheProtest pic.twitter.com/RdzQzmEsGn
— Amnesty Kenya (@AmnestyKenya) March 4, 2024
In a statement on Friday, the Union said Atellah was shot in the head while leading a peaceful procession over the delayed posting of medical interns.
In addition, they noted that the police fired teargas canisters at the doctors causing a stampede that further injured 25 of their colleagues.
“The Secretary-General suffered a head injury, underwent surgery at a Nairobi hospital, and is currently at the High Dependency Unit (HDU). We wish him a speedy recovery,” Miskellah said.
While condemning the act on Sunday, Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN) Secretary General Seth Panyako said the delay in posting interns is a result of corruption and not lack of funds as alleged by the ministry.
Kenya Medical Practitioners Pharmacists Dentists Union (KMPDU) on Monday began peaceful protests due to delays in calling for the posting of medics interns. (Photo: Amnesty Kenya)
“It is not that this country does not have money but money is put to bad use, corruption is the problem but when it comes to posting interns they are telling us there is no money,” Panyako said.
He also threatened that nurses across the country would join the expected doctor's strike if those responsible for the shooting were not arrested.
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