The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) has turned to Kenyans seeking financial help amid the ongoing nationwide doctor’s strike.
KMPDU in a statement on March 28, 2024, appealed for financial support faulting the government for halting the remission of the union’s dues.
“The government has stopped remitting union dues to cripple our demand for a better public healthcare system. We are calling on our friends to support us for the upcoming legal battles and Doctors’ assembly,” read part of the statement.
The union further went on to attach an MPESA Pay Bill number, urging Kenyans to stand with the doctors in their strike.
According to KMPDU, the ongoing nationwide strike is in line with their fight for fair treatment and better healthcare.
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“Your support can make a difference. Contribute now to back KMPDU’s strike for justice and improved medical and healthcare services in the country,” the statement added.
The appeal came amidst an ongoing strike which has paralyzed most services in public hospitals.
KMPDU Issues Strike Notice
Doctors have been on strike for more than 15 days since KMPDU issued a strike notice on March 6, 2024, citing key issues pertaining to the welfare of their Union members.
The strike has led to the intervention from various stakeholders including Head of Public Service, but no negotiations have yielded results.
On March 28, 2024, the Council of Governors (CoG) through its Chair Governor Anne Waiguru issued a warning to the striking medics.
Waiguru urged striking doctors who have their respective County Governments as their employers to go back to work.
She further warned that failure to adhere to the directive would lead to their employers taking appropriate disciplinary action.
The CoG chairperson argued that counties are the employers of the medics since health is a devolved function and are hence best placed to address their grievances.
KMPDU was also urged to negotiate new a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) with respective individual county governments.
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“We encourage the union to negotiate the new CBAs with individual county governments who are their employers. This cannot be negotiated from the national level because health is a devolved function. We urge the county governments and the doctors to exercise sobriety as parties resolve these matters amicably,” said Waiguru.
Doctors hit back
However, doctors hit back at Waiguru affirming that they will not resume their duties until their demands are addressed.
KMPDU Coast branch representative Dr. Ghalib Salim while speaking during the strike on March 28,2024, in Mombasa reiterated their stance, stating that they will not comply with the order issued by the CoG.
“We are not going to back down till our demands are met. We refuse to be threatened, if they want us to get back to work, they should heed our demands,” Salim said.
According to him, the resolutions offered by the Waiguru were ineffective according to the CBA agreement.
