Siaya County doctors officially downed their tools on Wednesday, January 22, escalating tensions over the county government’s failure to honor prior agreements aimed at improving healthcare services and working conditions.
The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists, and Dentists Union (KMPDU), Nyanza region, had earlier issued a 14-day strike notice, which was ignored by the Siaya County government. Leading the strike, Dr. Onyango Ndong’a, KMPDU Nyanza region chairperson, lambasted the county’s leadership for reneging on commitments made in their last meeting on August 1, 2024.
In that meeting, it was agreed that pending promotions and redesignations would be completed by November 2024. Yet, the county government has failed to honor this simple mutual agreement,” said Dr. Ndong’a during a press briefing at Siaya County Referral Hospital.
At the heart of the doctors’ grievances is the non-implementation of the 2017 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), which guarantees better terms, including timely salaries, promotions, and insurance coverage for county-employed doctors and interns.
Unmet Promises and Dire Consequences
The union accused the Siaya County government of failing to address critical issues such as:
- Delayed Salaries: Doctors reportedly receive salaries three months late.
- Lack of Insurance: Healthcare workers remain exposed without medical coverage.
- Stalled Promotions: No progress has been made on workforce career development.
“This blatant disregard for labor agreements, including CBAs, court orders, and HR guidelines, is unacceptable. The county has left our understaffed members vulnerable and demoralized,” said Dr. Ndong’a.
The union further criticized Siaya County’s failure to align budgetary growth with workforce remuneration, emphasizing the government’s neglect of healthcare as a critical public service.
Ultimatum to Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital
In a parallel development, KMPDU has issued a 14-day strike notice to Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) in Eldoret over alleged unfair labor practices. KMPDU Secretary-General Dr. Davji Atellah decried MTRH’s failure to implement the 2017 and 2021 CBAs, citing a range of grievances:
- Failure to convert doctors’ contracts into permanent and pensionable terms.
- Irregular employment practices, such as denial of leave and lack of medical cover.
- Non-remittance of third-party deductions, including loans, SACCO contributions, and pensions.
- Stagnation in career progression for senior doctors.
Dr. Atellah warned that failure to address these issues within 14 days would lead to a full-blown strike, potentially paralyzing operations at the referral hospital.
A Call to Action
KMPDU leaders have called on county and national governments to take immediate action to avert a worsening healthcare crisis. “The clock is ticking. We will not allow the government to continue failing its healthcare workers and, by extension, the Kenyan people,” said Dr. Ndong’a.
With the strike underway in Siaya County and looming at MTRH, the health sector faces significant disruption if stakeholders fail to engage and resolve the impasse. The union has made it clear: healthcare workers deserve respect, fair treatment, and the fulfillment of signed agreements.
