The Kenya Medical Practitioners Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) has issued fresh demands to the Health Ministry following the dissolution of the Cabinet, including the firing of Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha.
With President William Ruto stating that government operations would be handled by Principal Secretaries and other relevant officials, KMPDU gave the Principal Secretary for Public Health, Mary Muthoni Muriuki an ultimatum.
In a statement on July 12, KMPDU Secretary General Davji Atellah asked the PS to promptly prepare intern posting letters as per the 2017 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
He also said that they would make a visit to the Ministry on Monday July 15 and expressed the union’s frustration emphasizing that they were tired of excuses
“Muthoni, prepare the intern letters as per the CBA 2017, we are coming to pick them up on Monday. We are tired of excuses!” said Davji Atellah.
KMPDU Ultimatum to the MoH
KMPDU Deputy Secretary General Dr. Dennis Miskellah also issued a statement weighing in on the matter.
According to him the Union had on Monday this week agreed with the Ministry of Health (MOH) that all interns would be posted on CBA 2017 terms.
Also Read: Fresh Headache as Doctors Threaten to Occupy Nakhumicha’s Office
Also, he revealed that the only matter that was pending was the signing of the MoU by the CS and PS, which would be deposited in court.
“As of Monday, this week, we had agreed with MOH Kenya that interns would ALL BE POSTED ON CBA 2017 TERMS.
“What was pending was for the CS and her PS to sign the MoU to be deposited in court,” he said.
KMPDU Threaten to Occupy Afya House
Dr. Miskellah expressed hope that interns would finally receive their posting letters next Monday, or else they would “Occupy MOH” with the sole agenda of posting interns.
“We sincerely hope that on Monday next week the interns will finally get their posting letters. Otherwise, we shall be having an #OccupyMOH with only one agenda: POSTAGE OF INTERNS.”
The union’s demands came amid ongoing negotiations and the government’s failure to deliver on promises made to medical interns.
Interns Camp Outside MOH
Hundreds of medical interns gathered at the Ministry of Health headquarters in Nairobi on Monday, July 8, staging a peaceful protest and vowing to occupy the premises until their demands are met
Kenyans online, rallied behind the protests with many sharing images and videos showing the medical interns camped outside the upper hill offices while waving Kenyan flags and placards.
They staged the protest in response to the government’s failure to deliver on promises made during the nationwide doctors’ strike
Also Read: Confusion as KMPDU Denies Suspending #OccupyMoH Protests
The interns, some of whom have been waiting for internship since 2022, rejected the idea of “batch posting” and demanded to be posted immediately as per the 2017 CBA.
Additionally, they cited the psychological distress and depression many of them are experiencing due to the delays.
The interns called on fellow Kenyans to support their cause, emphasizing their essential role in the healthcare system and their past solidarity during the Finance Bill Protests
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