Kenya is staring at a health crisis after doctors announced their strike will begin on Monday.
This comes after talks between the government and Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Union (KMPDU) officials broke down.
The union said doctors’ grievances remain unresolved even after eight months of engagement with the government.
“Doctors will withdraw their labor in accordance with Article 41 of the Constitution and after the lapse of the 21-day strike notice issued on November 16th and suspended for 14 additional days,” KMPDU said in a notice.
Cadres of doctors who will down their tools include medical officer interns, pharmacist interns, and dental officer interns.
Others are medical officers, pharmacists, dentists, medical specialists (consultants), medical superintendents, county directors of health, doctor administrators, and sub-county medical officers.
Doctors are mainly protesting the lack of adequate personal protective equipment (PPEs) in hospitals and medical insurance cover to those in the frontline fighting the COVID-19 pandemic.
On Friday, Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe warned health workers that they risk losing their jobs if they proceed with the strike.
“I urge you to resume work to avoid losing your job. Please do not lose your job. As we go towards Christmas, the festive season, do not be another statistic that will be a job seeker next year. Please go back to where you are supposed to be,” he said.
KMPDU acting secretary-general Chibanzi Mwachonda hit back at CS Mutahi Kagwe, accusing him of being insensitive and arrogant.
“This is the level of insensitivity & arrogance health care workers have to deal with, raising grievances on your welfare and safety in COVID-19 is a crime. The ‘appreciation’ to health care workers in the country is illaudable,” he wrote on Twitter.
Nurses and clinical officers are already on strike to demand comprehensive medical cover and personal protective equipment, among other things.
The government pays…
The government pays politicians an insanely amount of money to basically do nothing but steal steal and steal public funds. Yet they can’t even compensate healthcare workers well let alone give them proper equipments. Being a doctor or nurse is one of the most rewarding career anywhere but not in Kenya. I don’t blame them for striking.
Still waiting for uhuru to…
Still waiting for uhuru to respond to Kenyans on his findings of where the US/UK’s donated money for Covid went to? 21 days of inquiry has turned into months! Who stole the money?
UHURU KENYATTA. Do you watch…
UHURU KENYATTA. Do you watch the news or read the papers? Your family stole the PPEs the doctors are sticking over.
Please take a moment and think about it. You might see it differently.
But what do I know.
Uhuru is AWOL while his…
Uhuru is AWOL while his thieving ministers are issuing threats.
Money from taxes, our taxes…
Money from taxes, our taxes in Kenya is for paying our politicians and what is left to be stolen by their friends and families. Doctors should forget being paid or have their insurance paid. They have to do with the little they have, risk contracting Covid and sharing it with their families, and if you are unfortunate, you die. After all, our politicians have no use of your lot. When they get a cold, they are flown overseas for treatment on our tax shillings. One eye is watching with a glee on its face, that of Uhuru while the greatest job of his deputy, Ruto is only politicking, day in, day out. This is the price of electing people whose interest is not us, but their stomachs. Kenyans, we will suffer for a while until we develop common sense. In the meanwhile we continue to die. Good luck.
Instead of striking, USA is…
Instead of striking, USA is hiring doctors, nurses, etc. Book that JFK flight
BBI is more important than…
BBI is more important than the health of Kenyans 93 million to certify signatures and zero for health care workers out priorities are backwards.
UHURU the blood of all those…
UHURU the blood of all those who died because of covid is on your hands.
The world is starting its…
The world is starting its reset on 21st of December with the conjunction. Let’s watch the effect on current systems.!!