The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists, and Dentists Union (KMPDU) has issued a dire warning to the government after negotiations over intern doctors’ pay reached a standstill. In a bold move, KMPDU is now threatening to strike once again unless the government honors the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) that was signed but has not been fully implemented.
At the heart of the dispute is the payment of intern doctors, with KMPDU demanding the government increase their salary from the current Ksh 47,000 to Ksh 70,000 as agreed in the CBA. The union insists that the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) circular, which counters this agreement, is unlawful and must be rectified.
“The only payment in dispute is the SRC circular that undermines our agreement,” KMPDU stated, stressing that all other cadres of health workers will receive their rightful payments without issue. The union also warned that if the Ministry of Health (MoH) does not honor the pay adjustment, doctors will have no choice but to down their tools and take to the streets.
KMPDU’s statement emphasized the power of collective action, saying, “When all other avenues do not work, then the power of workers is in withholding their skills. The cornerstone of negotiations and dialogues is in the demonstrations, sit-ins, and strikes as envisioned by the industrial court.”
This comes on the heels of a series of protests and strikes by medical professionals over unpaid wages, poor working conditions, and insufficient resources in the healthcare sector. With the union issuing a clear ultimatum, the government now faces mounting pressure to resolve the crisis before the situation escalates further.
If KMPDU follows through with its threat, it could lead to another nationwide healthcare disruption, affecting thousands of patients across Kenya. The ball is now in the government’s court to avoid another strike that could cripple the already struggling healthcare system.
By Kenyans