Doctors Urged to Engage in Dialogue as Strike Persists

As the nationwide doctor strike in Kenya enters its 25th day, Dagoretti, Member of Parliament, Hon. Beatrice Elachi, has called upon medical professionals to engage in constructive discussions with their employers.

Elachi's plea highlights the need for doctors to collaborate with the relevant authorities at both the national and county levels to find a resolution to the ongoing crisis.

“This is my plea to the doctors. Please sit down and agree with your employers. Agree and document that this is how we want to move with the government,” she said.

Speaking on the matter at K24 TV on April 8, 2024, Elachi emphasized that doctors employed by the national government should direct their concerns towards Health CS Susan Nakhumicha, while those working for county governments should address their grievances to their respective county administrations.

“My plea to the doctors is for them to sit down with their employers. Those who are at the national government can deal with CS Nakhumicha and those in the county should deal with the county government,” she added.

Elachi urged the medical professionals to agree on a clear framework for engagement and document their expectations, ensuring that the relevant authorities effectively address the issues raised.

The strike, which began on March 14, 2024, was initiated by doctors across the country. They demanded the recruitment of additional medical personnel and improved remuneration for medical interns.

The Ministry of Health has proposed a stipend of Sh70,000 for medical interns, but the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Union (KMPDU) has rejected this offer. Instead, the union insists on implementing the 2017 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) and the payment of interns by the agreed-upon terms.

During a church service at AIC Fellowship in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County, on April 7, 2024, President William Ruto urged the KMPDU to accept the government's offer on the payment of medical interns, citing the state's financial constraints as a significant obstacle to meeting the doctors' demands.

However, Health CS Susan Nakhumicha has maintained that the ministry lacks the necessary funding to meet the doctors' demands.

Trade unionist Francis Atwoli, representing the Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU), expressed his commitment to resolving the ongoing crisis. Atwoli assured the public that consultations were ongoing between the government and the union to address the contentious issues that have led to the strike and ensure that doctors can return to work.