Doctors declare a go slow in Nandi;warns of industrial strike in 5 other Counties
KMPDU declares go slow in Nandi County warns of a doctors strike in the North Rift Region/Photo James Gitaka
By Faith Chebichii
The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentist Union (KMPDU) North rift Region has declared a go slow in Nandi County, a move that will paralyze health service provision in Public health facilities within Nandi County.
The North Rift KMPDU secretary general Dr. Kamonzi Mulei , says Doctors and health workers in Nandi County have not been paid their salaries for the last three months,
“Nandi County for instance has not paid doctors their salaries for the last 3 months now. There is no communication as to why they have not paid. This is forced labor which is against all the existing labor laws and it must end with immediate effect,and from Today we direct our members to be on a go slow and very soon we could be forced to completely down our tools,”Said Dr. Kamonzi.
Five other counties including Uasin Gishu, Elgeiyo Marakwet, Turkana and West Pokot have refused to engage with the Union over the delayed and non-implementation of The Collective bargaining agreements that were signed between the union and the Counties, We are tired of boardroom meetings that bear no fruits , we warn them we have the ability to call for an industrial strike and we will do so ,Noted Dr.Darwin Ambuka the KMPDU Chair North rift region.
The Union also expressed their displeasure with the Moi University for failing to pay close to Sh30M in arrears to teacher doctors.
On the 9th of January 2023 KMPDU signed an agreement to initiate the 2017-2021 CBA implementations which has since stalled.
“We want to give a warning that time for negotiations is over now and the leadership has today resolved to deal with specific counties in a language they understand-industrial strikes. We cannot stay mum while Counties are continuing to terrorize our doctors due to non-payment of salaries,” said Dr. Ambuka.
The Doctors body is also demanding the promotion of doctors who haven’t been promoted from various cadres for the last ten years,employment of more doctors to bridge the current acute shortage where a single doctor serves 20,000 patients within the North Rift region.
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