From L-R KMPDU Deputy SG Dr. Dennis Miskellah, (Center) KMPDU National Chair Dr. Abidan Mwachi and (Right) KMPDU Secretary General Dr.Davji Atellah during an AGM conference in Nairobi on Saturday 30, 2024.
The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) has unanimously ratified plans for a national doctors’ strike, following an Annul General Meeting (AGM), Special Delegates Conference held on Saturday in Nairobi. The AGM confrence attended by over 600 doctors from across the country, highlighted frustrations over the government’s failure to honor the Return to Work Formula (RTWF) signed on May 8, 2024, and violations of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
At the heart of the doctors’ grievances is the unlawful reduction of intern doctors’ wages to Ksh 41,000, a figure far below the agreed Ksh 70,000. KMPDU Secretary General Dr. Davji Atellah decried this as a blatant breach of the CBA, describing the move as “a clear disregard for the dignity and welfare of healthcare workers.”
Dr. Attelah emphasized that the union’s leadership had made considerable sacrifices to negotiate the CBA, which outlines salary structures from interns to consultants. He expressed disappointment at the government’s release of a circular undermining these agreements, stating, “It is a knee-jerk reaction that makes every doctor in this country afraid to work.”
KMPDU National Chair, Dr. Abidan Mwachi, echoed these sentiments, calling the government’s actions “a big shame.” He warned of inevitable industrial action, vowing that doctors would strike before the end of December unless their demands are met. “This strike will happen. You can take that to the bank,” Dr. Mwachi said.
Deputy Secretary General Dr. Dennis Miskellah lambasted the government for perpetuating a “culture of lies,” accusing officials of issuing false statements about payments to interns. “The government doesn’t have to hate Kenyans this much to lie about something as serious as healthcare,” he remarked.
Highlighting a grim statistic, KMPDU National Treasurer Dr. Mercy Nabwire revealed that Kenya now leads Africa in the number of doctors dying by suicide, a crisis she attributed to government intransigence and systemic neglect. “We cannot continue to lose our young doctors. They deserve respect, dignity, and a working environment that values their mental health,” she said.
Dr. Nabwire underscored the devastating impact of these issues, not only on the healthcare workforce but also on the lives of ordinary Kenyans. “We cannot die while saving lives,” she added affirming the union’s resolve to stand firm until their grievances are addressed.
The conference ended with the adoption of a 10-point resolution, outlining strategies to ensure the success of the impending strike. Among the measures discussed were shutdowns of both public and private healthcare facilities, further signaling the union’s commitment to exert maximum pressure on the government.
“In light of these violations, KMPDU will serve an official strike notice on Monday, 2nd December 2024, to both the National and County Governments. This notice will mark the beginning of a united push to demand fair treatment, respect for agreements, and the urgent resolution of these critical issues,” Dr. Atellah stated
This latest development comes just months after the doctors’ 56-day strike in May, a period marked by widespread disruption in the healthcare sector. The KMPDU maintains that repeated industrial action is a last resort, but one made necessary by the government’s failure to uphold its commitments.
As the country braces for another healthcare crisis, the union has urged the government to return to the negotiating table and fulfill its obligations under the RTWF and CBA. Failure to do so, they warn, will leave them no choice but to strike, placing millions of Kenyans at risk of losing access to critical medical services.