HEALTH STRIKE: KMPDU Issues 14-Day Notice Over Delayed Pay
The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists, and Dentists Union (KMPDU) has threatened to stage protests within the next fourteen days if the government does not meet its demands.
While addressing journalists in Nairobi, Union Secretary General Davji Atellah accused the government of frustrating health workers with persistent salary delays.
Doctors’ strike threat
— Citizen TV Kenya (@citizentvkenya) September 5, 2024
Health workers threaten to down tools in 40 counties
Medics have given counties 14 days to address demands
Atella: Issues raised must be address immediately #CitizenBriefs @OBurrows pic.twitter.com/uVAvkAWnpv
According to Attelah, most healthcare workers across the country have been paid pitiful wages, despite the government’s initial promise to increase their pay.
“These salary delays have caused unforetold suffering among healthcare workers across several counties. These workers are unable to pay their rent, fuel their cars or even pay their daily utilities,” Atellah said.
“We are saying that we will not continue to see our workers in these counties straining to go to work while their salaries and welfare are ignored.”
The health officials also demanded the immediate issuance of medical insurance coverage for all health workers, citing potential risks during their duties.
He referred to the government’s failure to provide health insurance as the greatest negligence.
“Therefore we are in demand for the health insurance of workers in those 40 counties immediately,” Atellah stated.
KMPDU officials also accused county governments of failing to remit healthcare workers’ salary deductions to the revenue authority, putting the workers in a predicament.
Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN) Secretary General Seth Panyako addresses the media alongside KMPDU SG Davji Atellah and other union officials. The union issued a 12-day strike notice, urging 40 county governments to pay three months' salary arrears
— The Standard Digital (@StandardKenya) September 5, 2024
Photos by Edward Kiplimo pic.twitter.com/IswVfLolOM
“We have noted with concern the frustration of our workers from close to 40 counties where statutory deductions have not been remitted to some counties even up to two years,” the Union’s Secretary General claimed.
“We have seen bank loans have not been paid. It is an injustice and immoral when the said counties expect the same workers to continue working.”
During the press conference, Attelah promised to deploy mobile health workers throughout the country, including doctors, nurses, clinical officers, and even laboratory technicians.
“That is why today we are saying that all the health workers, that is, the doctors, nurses, clinical officers, lab technicians will be out of work as they demand for these things to be implemented,” Attelah stated.
HEALTH STRIKE: KMPDU Issues 14-Day Notice Over Delayed Pay
