Photo Credit: AP
The doctor strike in Kenya has started its second week, with hundreds of Kenyan doctors protesting in the streets. They are carrying placards and chanting against the Kenyan government, saying that it has failed to implement promises, including a collective bargain agreement signed in 2017 after a 100-day strike. The strike was initiated by Kenyan medical practitioners, pharmacists, and dentists (KMPDU), where the doctors’s demand better pay and working conditions.
The doctors are demanding a commitment from the government and comprehensive medical coverage. Another rising issue is the government’s failure to post 1,200 medical interns, which has raised many questions. Also, the doctors accuse the government of refusing to compromise and have here vowed to continue the strike until their demands are met.
The strike has had significant impacts on the count, with many patients left unattended to or being turned away from hospitals. It is a complex issue, revolving around the government, the healthcare system, and the doctor’s welfare.
There have been negotiations and talks about the strike. However, the talks have been tense and challenging. An eight-hour closed-door meeting was held at the Kenya International Convention Center (KICC), but unfortunately, the talks broke down. The central organization of trade unions (COTU-K) secretaries general Francis Atwoli has also been addressing the government and the union to end the strike. He stated that he has been engaging with the government and intends to meet with the doctors’ union to facilitate a return-to-work program.
The doctors have stood firm with their decision to strike until their demands are met. And this means walking all over the streets of Nairobi with white lab coats, blocking roads, blowing whistles, and making a lot of noise while carrying placards, attracting all attention from citizens so that the government can meet those demands.
The police response to the strike has been quite firm. The inspector general of police issued a directive stating that the striking medics had become a public nuisance and instructed police commanders to deal with the situation. However, this directive has faced backlash. The doctor’s lawyer,Ochiel Dudley,demanded that the inspector general retract his directive and apologize for it publicly. Also, the medics condemned the directive, describing it as a threat to democratic principles.
This strike is now hitting headlines all over the world, as the other day it aired on CNN, and the doctors now anticipate that the matter will be addressed.
Ig @mannu mwendwa
