• The Ministry of Health proposed a stipend of Sh70,000 for medical interns, but the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Union (KMPDU) rejected this offer.

On social media platform X, Kenyans have expressed their opinions regarding Gladys Shollei's comments on the ongoing doctors' strike.

Shollei, the Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly made a statement on April 8, 2024 during the Day Break show on Citizen TV regarding the strike, emphasizing the importance of guaranteeing job security for doctors, even at the expense of lower pay during their internship.

"You have to do an internship to qualify as a doctor. Interns were guaranteed that they will be absorbed after completing the internship, which is better than the current arrangement where interns are highly paid yet they are not guaranteed employment. It is better to earn less and be guaranteed of a job," Shollei stated.

The reactions of Kenyans online have varied. Some users expressed concerns about the government's ability to employ and pay doctors if they struggle to do so for interns.

Others rejected the offer and called for implementing the 2017 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) instead. The sentiment among these individuals was that the government had made promises in the past without fulfilling them, and they were not willing to accept new offers they considered inadequate.

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The following are some of the comments on X:

@mmbiyu

@GladysShollei Where will you find money to employ and pay them as doctors in 12 months if you can’t find money to pay them as interns? Just asking.

@Toomey_Turmett

We don't accept that offer. How many promises have you been making without fulfilling them? We're not fools to buy your cheap offers. Interns can look for the job themselves after the internship. Just #Implement2017CBA! If you want to slash interns' salaries, then the Doctor's pay.

@hustler_kabwere

Correct 💯 Ignore the noise. Focus on the work.

@angie_nambiro

There are 4000 unemployed doctors. How will they bypass them and employ us???

@EstateScoutkE

#DoctorsStrikeKE Instead of the government carrying this extremely heavy benevolent heart for the medics, why not scrap the internship requirement after graduation as a medical doctor? That way, the graduate doctors who are majorly the top brains this country has can freely chart their path.

@OtienoGodfrey33

I agree that interns must be stipended; some people understand stipends as Salary. However, they are later employed fully according to the agreement.

@amayojnr

So what exactly guarantees them jobs? Low pay during internships or the need for doctors in hospitals?

Doctors nationwide initiated the ongoing strike, which commenced on March 14, 2024. Their demands include recruiting additional medical personnel and improved remuneration for medical interns.

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

President William Ruto has urged the KMPDU to accept the government's offer on intern payment, citing financial constraints as a significant hurdle in meeting the doctors' demands. However, Health CS Susan Nakhumicha has reiterated that the ministry lacks the necessary funding to fulfil the doctors' requests.

The standoff between the doctors and the government continues, with both sides holding firm on their respective positions. The strike's impact on healthcare services and resolving the dispute remain crucial concerns for the nation.