Doctors in Kenya’s Upper Eastern Region, allied with the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Union (KMPDU), have affirmed their readiness to join the nationwide strike planned for December 22. The announcement underscores a deepening crisis in the healthcare sector as medical professionals demand the fulfillment of promises made by the government earlier this year.
Representing counties including Embu, Meru, Tharaka Nithi, Isiolo, and Marsabit, the doctors expressed solidarity with colleagues nationwide, accusing the government of failing to honor key agreements outlined in a return-to-work formula. The pending strike is set to paralyze healthcare services in public hospitals unless swift action is taken.
Background of Grievances
The impending industrial action marks the second strike by doctors this year. In April, the healthcare workforce staged a 56-day walkout that ended on May 8 following the signing of a return-to-work agreement with the Ministry of Health and county governments.
The agreement promised to address several critical issues, including:
- Delayed promotions: Many doctors have stagnated in the same positions for years, despite qualifications and experience that warrant advancement.
- Salary arrears: Payments have been inconsistently disbursed, leaving many healthcare workers financially strained.
- Pay cuts for interns: Medical interns, already operating under challenging conditions, have seen reductions in their stipends.
- Medical insurance: Adequate insurance coverage, a basic necessity for healthcare workers, remains unimplemented.
- Employment of new doctors: The union has called for more recruitment to address shortages that overburden the existing workforce.
Seven months since the agreement was signed, none of these grievances have been resolved.
Union Leaders Speak Out
Addressing doctors at Embu Level Five Hospital on Tuesday, KMPDU Upper Eastern Chairman Dr. Denis Mugambi stated that the government’s inaction had left them with no option but to proceed with the strike.
“The strike will go on as planned, and the only thing that can stop it is the implementation of the CBA (Collective Bargaining Agreement) in totality,” Dr. Mugambi said.
KMPDU Secretary General Dr. Davji Atella echoed these sentiments, accusing the government of dishonoring its obligations. He warned that public hospitals nationwide would be deserted by midnight on December 22 if no tangible solutions were presented.
“We have said and we reiterate that come 22nd midnight, not a single doctor in all the hospitals in the country will be at work. We will leave the hospitals for the politicians to run,” Dr. Atella stated, underscoring the frustration among medical practitioners.
Implications of the Strike
The planned strike comes at a critical time, with healthcare facilities across the country already struggling under the weight of inadequate staffing and resources. A complete withdrawal of services by doctors could lead to a public health crisis, particularly in rural areas where alternative healthcare options are limited.
Patients seeking critical care, emergency services, and ongoing treatments could face dire consequences as public hospitals grind to a halt.
A Call for Urgent Action
Union leaders have emphasized that the strike is a last resort, calling on the government to prioritize healthcare workers’ welfare and fulfill its commitments. The doctors are adamant that their demands are not new but are part of a negotiated agreement that the government has failed to implement.
With only days left before the December 22 deadline, the ball is now in the government’s court. It remains to be seen whether decisive action will be taken to avert the looming healthcare crisis. For the affected doctors, the strike represents not just a demand for fair treatment but a fight for the dignity and sustainability of the medical profession in Kenya.
As the clock ticks, the nation watches anxiously, hoping for a resolution that ensures the stability of its healthcare system and the well-being of its citizens.
