Doctors in Kenya have issued fresh threats of downing their tools if the government does not honor several pledges contained in a return-to-work signed between doctors and county governments.
Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) Secretary-General Dr. Ouma Oluga said that county governments have remained adamant in implementing the return-to-work deal that they signed.
He said that despite a presidential directive to pay doctors for the days they were on strike, it has not happened yet.
“We won’t work without pay,” he said.
Oluga noted that the only option left is to down their tools once again to push the government to implement the signed deal.
He pointed out issues such as proper placement of doctors in Job groups which was captured in the deal has not been implemented yet.
He also said that they have not received four months salary which will lead to strike eventually.
“If anyone wants to replay the 100 days of the doctors strike, we won’t hesitate to give them another 200 days,” said the KPMPU Secretary General.
Chairman Council of Governors, Peter Munya, just a few days after the 100-day long strike was called off; went ballistic and said governors will not pay doctors for the period they were in strike.
This created a lot of heat prompting President Uhuru Kenyatta to step in and ask the governors to pay the doctors.
However, he warned that should they ever strike again, they will be fired.