KMPDU and six healthcare workers’ unions are demanding that county governments pay salaries, provide the workers with medical covers and remit deductions made for various institutions.
The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) has threatened to mobilise protests in the next 14 days if the government fails to heed its three demands.
KMPDU and six healthcare workers’ unions are demanding that county governments pay salaries, provide the workers with medical covers and remit deductions made for various institutions.
Other unions involved include the Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN), Kenya National Union of Medical Laboratory Officers (KNUMLO), Kenya Union of Clinical Officers (KUCO), Kenya National Union of Pharmaceutical Technologists (KNUPT), Kenya Union of Nutritionists and Dieticians (KUNAD), Kenya Health Professional Society (KEHPHPU), and Kenya National Union of Medical Officers (KNUNM).
KMPDU Secretary General Dr. Davji Atellah addresses a joint health union presser on September 5, 2024. /CITIZEN DIGITAL
The unions in a joint statement read by KMPDU Secretary General Dr Davji Atellah, outlined the challenges facing health workers nationwide, highlighting that medical personnel in Meru, Machakos, West Pokot, Kakamega, Nairobi, Embu, Samburu, Taita Taveta, Homa Bay, Kisii, Kisumu, Nyamira, Mombasa, Kajiado, Migori, Trans Nzoia, Vihiga, and Bungoma counties have endured delays or non-payment of salaries for up to three months, impacting their ability to provide essential services.
“These salary delays have caused immense suffering among healthcare workers across several counties. They can’t pay their rent, fuel their vehicles, or even cover basic utilities,” Atellah told journalists in Nairobi, adding “We cannot continue to watch our workers struggle to get to work while their salaries and welfare are ignored.”
The unions further criticized the failure of several counties to provide comprehensive medical coverage to healthcare personnel and failing to remit third-party deductions such as bank loans, SACCO contributions, pensions, union dues and NHIF payments.
“All counties must procure proper medical cover for healthcare workers. This must be done within the next 14 days to ensure healthcare workers have access to the care they need. Counties in arrears must settle all outstanding salaries within the next 14 days. Failure to meet this demand will compel us to take industrial action to safeguard our members’ welfare,” read the statement.
“All counties must immediately remit third-party deductions, including loans. SACCO contributions, union dues, and NHIF deductions. These funds are vital for our members’ financial stability and access to critical services. Failure to meet these demands within the stipulated timeframe will result in further action, including industrial strikes.”
Further, the unions likewise called on the national government, county governments, and relevant authorities to take immediate and decisive action to address these issues.
During the presser, the KMPDU SG warned that the union would mobilize all healthcare workers, including doctors, nurses, clinical officers, and laboratory technicians, to take industrial action if their demands were not met.
“That is why today we are saying that all the health workers, that is, the doctors, nurses, clinical officers, lab technicians will be out of work as they demand for these things to be implemented,” Attelah stated.
KMPDU SG Davji Atellah during protests in Nairobi on Thursday, February 29, 2024. /KMPDU
