Health crisis looms in Embu as doctors set to go on strike

Doctors in Embu County are gearing up to down their tools this week ahead of the lapse of a 21-day notice issue to the devolved unit’s administration in December last year.

The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists’ Union (KMPDU) Secretary General Dr. Davji Atellah, in the notice to the county government, said the decision for the go-slow was arrived at after the leadership continuously failed to address the medics’ concerns.

These concerns, Dr. Atellah noted, most notably included failure by the Embu County government to implement the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) signed on June 30, 2017, as well as contravention of the Scheme of Service put in place in 2016.

The KMPDU boss went ahead to cite issues raised by the health workers such as delayed and denied promotions, and the general shortage of doctors within Embu County, singling out the Embu Level V Hospital.

“Our members' career stagnation for the past decade is in clear violation of these agreements. We demand the immediate promotion and re-designation of all affected officers to their rightful job groups, along with the payment of corresponding arrears,” stated Dr. Atellah.

“The employment of doctors under ambiguous contract terms that do not align with established guidelines, particularly the non-provision of gratuity payment, is unacceptable. We demand the conversion of these doctors to permanent and pensionable terms as stipulated in the CBA and relevant circulars. We also insist on the promotion of these officers to their rightful job groups and the payment of all owed gratuity and arrears.”

He further accused the county government of failing to remit statutory deductions. loan payments, Sacco contributions, insurance premiums, and KMPDU member contributions, terming these as violations of legal requirements and employment agreements.

The KMPDU Secretary General also cited the alleged denial of study leave for eligible doctors, unfavourable work environments, unprocedural stoppage of salaries, as well as victimization and arbitrary transfers as other causes of the planned industrial action.

“We emphasize our willingness to engage in open and constructive dialogue to find lasting solutions to these issues. However, if the aforementioned matters remain unaddressed, KMPDU will have no choice but to commence its strike action beginning 21 days from the receipt of this notice,” Dr. Atellah said in the letter dated December 21, 2023.