Chief of Staff and Head of The Public Service Felix Koskei has revealed that national government has fulfilled three demands made by the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) to end the ongoing doctors’ strike.
In a statement, Koskei said the Whole-of-the-Nation Approach Committee isolated the nineteen issues raised in the strike notice.
Thereafter, it classified and prioritized each issue and assigned responsibility to each level of Government.
“Six issues were classified to relate to the mandate of the national government, while nine issues were categorized to relate to the mandate of County Governments, and four issues fell under concurrent mandate,” the statement read in part.
Felix Koskei Details Way forward
According to Koskei the national government has undertaken three measures in fulfillment of its obligations in the issues raised by KMPDU.
He explained that the government has facilitated the payment of basic salary arrears accrued by the national government and entities arising from the 2017-2021 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
Additionally, Koskei said the government secured the requisite budgetary support in the amount of Ksh2.4 billion to facilitate the immediate deployment and posting of the 2023/24 cohort of medical student interns.
“In that regard, all eligible medical student interns are urged to collect their posting letters from the Ministry of Health’s offices with effect from Thursday, 4th April 2024,” he explained.
Besides, he said the government has provided grants and scholarships for eligible postgraduate medical officers.
“We are aware that County Governments are at various stages of addressing the issues raised in respect to their Counties,” he revealed.
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Message to KMPDU
He further stated that the government and stakeholders in the Health Sector remain committed to fostering constructive dialogue, addressing concerns, and ensuring the health and well-being of all Kenyans.
Koskei explained that the government is supporting the efforts to resolve the current dispute and bring about a permanent end to the cycle of industrial action.
“With that spirit in mind, the leadership of the KMPDU is urged to comply with its obligations under the Court’s Orders by immediately suspending the ongoing industrial action,” he said.
The doctors have downed their tools since March 14 in protest of the health ministry’s non-compliance with the KMPDU 2017 CBA and the government’s failure to post medical interns.
Union Asks Ruto to Intervene
KMPDU Secretary General Davji Atellah asked President William Ruto to intervene as the strike entered its 20th day on April 2, 2024.
Atellah maintained that the doctors will not end the strike until the government address their demands.
“Where this matter has reached… it is the president to resolve,” Atellah said in a press conference.
However, Ruto has never commented on the ongoing doctors’ strike since it started.
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He has instead allowed Koskei and the Health CS Susan Nakhumicha to lead negotiations with KMPDU latest one being on March 21.
Other issues raised by KMPDU include payment of their salary arrears and the provision of adequate medical insurance cover for themselves and their dependents.
The doctors also want the government to address delays of salaries and start paying doctors who work in public hospitals as part of their higher degree courses.
Clinical Officers Join the Strike
The Kenya Union of Clinical Officers (KUCO) joined the ongoing doctors’ strike on Monday, April 1, 2024, further worsening the medical crisis in the country.
KUCO issued a seven-day strike notice to the national and county governments on March 25.
The Union’s chairperson Peterson Wachira said the clinical officers joined the strike since the two levels of government failed to meet their demands mentioned in the strike notice.
