The government has urged the Kenya Union of Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists, and Dentists’ Union (KMPDU) to suspend their onging strike that is on its third week.
In a statement on Tuesday, April 2, Head of Public Service Felix Koskei announced the deployment of medical interns, one of the pertinent issues of KMPDU.
Koskei said the government has secured KSh 2.4 billion to facilitate the immediate deployment and posting of the 2023/24 cohort of medical student interns.
“Secured the requisite budgetary support in the amount of KSh 2.4 billion to facilitate the immediate deployment and posting of the 2023/24 cohort of medical student interns per the guidelines issued by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC),” Koskei said.
He asked all eligible medical interns to collect their posting letters from the Ministry of Health beginning Thursday, April 4.
“In that regard, all eligible medical student interns are urged to collect their posting letters from the Ministry of Health’s offices with effect from Thursday, April 4, 2024,” he stated.
Following the development, Koskei urged KMPDU to suspend their strike amid ongoing mediation to resolve the remaining issues.
“With that spirit in mind, the leadership of the KMPDU is urged to comply with its obligations under the Court’s Orders by immediately suspending the ongoing industrial action,” he added.
Reacting to Koskei’s statement KMPDU secretary gemeral Davji Atella has however termed the government’s move as impunity, maintaining that the strike is still on.
“When injustice becomes law, resistance becomes duty. We refuse to tolerate impunity! With unwavering determination, our resolve surges. United in purpose, our strike gains momentum, intensifying tenfold as we advance towards a healthcare system rooted in fairness and justice,” he said on X.
“When injustice becomes law, resistance becomes duty.”
We refuse to tolerate impunity! With unwavering determination, our resolve surges. United in purpose, our strike gains momentum, intensifying tenfold as we advance towards a healthcare system rooted in fairness and justice. pic.twitter.com/mCGXboVd6c
— Davji Bhimji Atellah (@Davji) April 2, 2024
Health Susan Nkakumicha on her side however claims the doctors’ strike has been sponsored by her enemies.
Nakhumicha has been under pressure from a section of Kenyans who argue that she has failed to properly run the critical docket, compounding things for being the doctors’ strike.
According to her, the happenings in her Ministry were the work of envious detractors who seemed unimpressed with her commitment to streamline the health sector, including those she claimed were aggrieved after they were denied the chance to fleece state agencies like KEMSA and the NHIF.