The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentist’s Union (KMPDU) has issued a notice of a planned demonstration to push the government to act on their demands.
In the notice, KMPDU Secretary General Dr. Davji Atellah, asked the government to provide them with security during the peaceful procession dated Thursday 21 March 2024 9:00 am.
“We are writing to notify you of our plan to organize a peaceful procession to address the Ministry of Health’s blatant disregard for the concerns affecting Kenyan doctors as raised in the Notice of industrial action,” the notice read.
“In light of the importance of maintaining order and ensuring the safety of all participants, we kindly request your assistance in providing security during this event. Your cooperation and support in facilitating a peaceful and orderly procession would be greatly appreciated,” the notice further read.
The medical practitioners intend to start the procession from the Kenyatta National Hospital, passing through Ngong Road, Ministry of Health, the Parliament, National Treasury and subsequently to the Council of Governors in Westlands.
This notice comes a day after the KMPDU and the Ministry Of Health held a meeting in a bid to unlock the strike stalemate that has paralyzed services in public hospitals.
The Union’s demands were however not met forcing the doctors to go back on the streets to demand, the posting of medical interns, release of funds allocated for the deployment of the interns and payment of post-graduate fees among others.
In their last month’s procession, Dr. Davji Atellah was hit and injured by a teargas canister thrown by the police which prompted the doctors to call for the shutdown of all public hospitals in the country in protest of the attack.
Atellah was hit in the head, causing him to suffer from a fracture in the skull, internal bleeding as well as other injuries.