The Kenya Airline Pilots Association (KALPA) on Monday, April 8, 2024, held a meeting with the leadership of the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacist and Dentists Union (KMPDU).
KMPDU in a statement on social media said they discussed mutual interests with KALPA’s leadership.
The doctors’ union further thanked their counterparts in the aviation industry for showing solidarity with their ongoing industrial action.
“Today, we discussed mutual interests with KALPA’s leadership amid the ongoing 26-day Doctors’ strike. We are grateful for our Sister Union’s solidarity, we stand together, recognizing its power in shaping global workers’ strength,” KMPDU said.
The KALPA-KMPDU meeting has sparked fears that pilots could soon start their own industrial action.
Kenya Airways pilots under KALPA went on strike on November 5, 2022.
KALPA, which represents about 400 pilots at the carrier, called for industrial action after failing to resolve a dispute over pension contributions and settlement of deferred pay.
The pilots’ union only called off the strike after Employment and Labour Relations Court Judge Anna Mwaure ordered pilots to resume work on November 9 by 6 am.
“Members are also urged to report to the Executive Council any incident of victimisation or disciplinary action that may be taken contrary to court orders,” KALPA said in a letter to members.
Doctors’ strike
Meanwhile, the ongoing doctors’ strike enters day 26 today.
There are no signs of the continued industrial action being resolved any time soon as concerns continue to be raised on the plight of patients across Kenya.
Despite efforts to resolve the impasse, KMPDU has accused the government of being non-committal in addressing its plight with the government.
The striking doctors fingered the State for threatening to sack doctors who fail to return to work, stressing that talks on a return-to-work formula would only happen then through negotiations and not threats.
Doctors at Kenya’s public hospitals began the nationwide strike on March 14, 2024.
The doctors downed tools calling for the Health Ministry to honour the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) made in 2017.
Their grievances are; the delayed posting of interns, fair remuneration of interns, postgraduate training, employment of more doctors and comprehensive health coverage for medics.
KMPDU on Friday last week announced a scheduled demo slated for Tuesday, April 9, 2024.
“KMPDU extends a nationwide invitation to all Doctors, Medical Interns, and Medical Students to join us in peaceful demonstrations on Tuesday, April 9, 2024. Let’s unite our voices to advocate for the rights of doctors and strive for improved healthcare standards for Kenyans,” KMPDU said.
KMPDU extends a nationwide invitation to all Doctors, Medical Interns, and Medical Students to join us in peaceful demonstrations on Tuesday, April 9, 2024. Let’s unite our voices to advocate for the rights of doctors and strive for improved healthcare standards for Kenyans. pic.twitter.com/rtEuNxKbuV
— KMPDU (@kmpdu) April 5, 2024
Clinicians’ strike
The health crisis in Kenya deepened as clinicians joined the striking doctors.
Clinical officers began their strike on April 1, 2024.
The Kenya Union of Clinical Officers (KUCO) reaffirmed that their strike is still on despite what they termed as intimidation and threats.
Clinical officers on Monday, April 8, 2024, converge at the Greenpark Terminus in Nairobi for a peaceful protest.
On Sunday, April 7, Ruto claimed that the government was not able to meet the financial demands by striking medics.
Speaking during a Sunday service at Eldoret AIC Fellowship church, Ruto said that the country is already overspending on salaries.
According to Ruto, the government is currently spending 47 per cent of its revenues on salaries against the recommended 35 per cent.
