Kenya Medical Practitioners Pharmacist Dentist Union(KMPDU) has issued a seven-day strike notice for Kajiado doctors over unresolved concerns.
The medics cite tribalism, favouritism in doctors’ welfare and promotion, harassment and intimidation and unlawful dismissals as the major thorny issues affecting them.
“Most doctors have worked for many years with no promotion. The County Government of Kajiado has not honoured the signed Collective Bargaining Agreement. The demand for suitability is a scapegoat to bar doctors from attaining rightful job groups. There is an erratic promotion of doctors based on clannism, nepotism and favouritism without consideration of SRC recommendations,” Devji Stella, KMPDU Secretary General, said while addressing journalists in Kitengela.
“Due to this, the Kajiado County Public Service board should be investigated and disbanded. We also demand that the board release its full report of the county’s staff audit commissioned four months ago,”
The union says efforts to negotiate with the county’s Ministry of Health have hit a snag as it continues disregarding the doctors’ plight.
“We have reached out to the county severally but they continue ignoring the doctors’ plight. Doctors transfers are being done capriciously, arbitrarily and unreasonably without consideration of norms, standards, values and principles of public service,” Stella said.
The doctors also cited the lack of annual leave, denial of doctors’ study leave and lack of remittance of third-party deductions to the relevant bodies as contentious issues.
Number of doctors in Kajiado
The strike notice comes against a backdrop of acute doctors shortage in the county. The entire county has 87 doctors against the minimum requirement of 200 medics.
County executive committee member in charge of health Alex Kilowua, who has adversely been mentioned and accused by KMPDU of laxity and ignorance has however expressed confidence that the strike will not take place as the allegations are malicious.
“The allegations are politically instigated and not true,” Kilowua said.
