Doctors have issued a stark warning that they may soon resort to strikes, sit-ins, and other forms of public protest if ongoing negotiations with the government over internship pay rates and collective bargaining agreements remain unresolved.
After a recent series of meetings ended in a deadlock, the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists, and Dentists Union (KMPDU) has indicated that its members are prepared to take action if satisfactory solutions are not reached.
Dr. Davji Atellah, Secretary General of KMPDU, on Saturday, November 9, 2024, voiced the union’s frustration following an impasse over payment discrepancies that affect both entry-level interns and experienced doctors.
The primary point of contention is the new payment structure stipulated in a recent Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) circular, which sets the gross pay for interns between Ksh47,000 and Ksh70,000, contrary to the CBA rate agreed upon with the union.
The KMPDU boss argues that this SRC-mandated pay scale is well below the rate specified in their 2017 collective bargaining agreement (CBA).
Atellah stated that while the salaries for non-contested job categories are progressing, discussions with the Ministry of Health over the contested intern wages hit an impasse on October 31.
“We have had several meetings with the @MOH_Kenya that ended at a deadlock on 31/10/2024. Ministry stuck at SRC circular of 47k-70k gross, and we stood by CBA rate,” Atellah wrote on X.
However, a follow-up meeting held on November 7 with the Head of Public Service provided hope for a resolution, though no formal agreements were reached.
“On 7th/11/2024, we had a 3-hour meeting with Head of Public Service at Harambee House. The engagement was more progressive, and more meetings were scheduled for next week. We shall communicate when we have a concrete outcome,” Atellah added.
The union’s leadership has emphasized that the internship pay issue is not isolated but symptomatic of a larger struggle for fair pay, improved working conditions, and proper resource allocation in Kenya’s healthcare sector.
Strike notice
Atellah noted that the issue of doctors’ pay and conditions affects practitioners in both public and private healthcare settings, including NGOs and faith-based organizations.
Atellah underscored that doctors across Kenya are prepared to comply with court orders while continuing to negotiate in good faith.
However, if these measures fail, the KMPDU boss warned that they may have no choice but to begin demonstrations, sit-ins, or even a full-scale strike.
“Currently, negotiations are ongoing in the boardrooms, but it is not unknown to the courts and the government that negotiations are not limited to the boardrooms.
“We shall negotiate for 45 days in the boardroom; when necessary, we shall begin to negotiate on the streets and finally we shall negotiate at home,” the KMPDU Secretary General said.
Atellah called upon all sectors of the medical profession to stand in solidarity.
“We must all be ready to take action. 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.”
The deadline for a negotiated resolution is November 30, 2024, when the 45-day negotiation period stipulated by an October court judgment comes to an end.
The statement by Atellah comes after the Principal Secretary for Public Health, Mary Muthoni, announced that the government would finally clear salary arrears for medical interns.
Muthoni also said that the government had released Ksh1.75 billion earmarked for the salaries, providing much-needed relief to intern doctors who have gone unpaid.
“We have a budget for intern doctors this year, and we are processing their payments to resolve any delays. Those who have been working for months without salaries will be paid so that we can move away from that,” she stated on Friday.
Doctors went on strike for 56 days
On July 17, 2024, Health Principal Secretary and KMPDU Secretary General announced the signing of an agreement to facilitate the immediate posting of intern doctors.
The Ministry of Health announced the posting of 1,210 medical interns, who started their 12-month internships on August 1, 2024.
The government on May 8, 2024, reached a deal with KMPDU to end a 56-day strike by doctors, but the key issue of salaries for interns remained open.
The doctors’ strike began on March 14, 2024.
“After 56 days, @kmpdu signs agreement, ending nationwide doctors’ strike,” the Ministry of Health announced on X on May 8, 2024.
