NAIROBI, Kenya, Apr 11 – Azimio La Umoja one Kenya leader Raila Odina is calling for the reinstatement of the Sh206,000 pay for interns until the next Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) talks.
Odinga argued that reducing employees’ salaries during their tenure is unfair and disruptive to their livelihoods.
He warned of an impending crisis should the strike continue to gain support from all healthcare workers.
“I’m convinced that the doctors and all other health workers currently on strike will be able to craft a return to work Formula and resume Duty if the government were to meet the demands half way as negotiations continue,” the Opposition Leader said
The Azimio Leader pointed out the salary discrepancies for doctors pursuing further studies stating that counties are responsible for paying them.
“I urge the ministry.of health to immediately engage the doctor’s and their learning institutions with a view to clear the fee balances and enable the doctor to complete their studies,” the former Prime Minister said. .
Odinga also criticized the practice of hiring doctors on short-term contracts and called for enforcement of fair labor practices
He highlighted the issue of unequal pay where doctors performing the same job face significant salary variations, and insists that the medical profession requires more structured management.
The Azimio leader appealed to the counties that have terminated doctors’ contracts to reconsider their decisions and retain these vital healthcare workers, cautioning them of the consequences of inaction.
The strike, led by the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU), has significantly disrupted healthcare services across the country’s 57 public hospitals, leaving patients to suffer as they seek care from costly private facilities.
The Opposition Coalition on Tuesday threatened to join the strike if the government fails to address the doctors’ grievances, emphasizing the urgent need for dialogue to resolve the crisis.
The Ministry of Health has proposed retaining interns on a stipend of 70,000, which would cost approximately 2.4 billion.
However, meeting KMPDU’s demands would require 4.9 billion, a figure deemed unaffordable by Afya House.
Despite this, doctors insist on maintaining their strike stance until their demands are met, highlighting the dire need for a sustainable solution to this healthcare impasse.
