The Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Union (KMPDU) has decided to postpone the demonstrations originally planned for Tuesday, May 7, in a bid to prioritize ongoing negotiations with the government aimed at addressing doctors’ grievances.
In a letter addressed to union members, KMPDU Secretary-General Davji Atellah explained that the peaceful protests have been deferred to an undisclosed date to facilitate the negotiation process.
Atellah emphasized the importance of engaging in dialogue to resolve the concerns that prompted the planned demonstrations.
“This decision comes in light of ongoing negotiations scheduled for today, 7th May 2024, at 10:00 am. We believe that participating in these negotiations is essential in addressing the concerns and grievances that led to the planned demonstration,” stated Dr. Atellah in the letter.
He further assured union members of the KMPDU’s commitment to providing updates on any developments regarding the negotiations and the rescheduled date for the demonstration.
The postponement follows months of unrest within the medical community, with doctors protesting the government’s failure to fulfill promises outlined in the 2017 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), particularly regarding the posting of medical interns and adherence to agreed-upon labour terms.
Since March 14, doctors have been boycotting their duty stations, seeking to compel the government to honor the terms of the CBA.
Despite ongoing negotiations involving representatives from the Ministry of Health, the Salaries and Remuneration Commission, and the Head of Public Service under a ‘Whole of the Nation Approach’ committee, progress has been slow.
One of the main sticking points in the negotiations has been the disparity between the government’s proposed salary offer for medical interns set at Ksh.70,000 and the amount stipulated in the CBA, which stands at Ksh.206,000.
This significant gap in compensation has contributed to the impasse, leading to the doctors’ continued dissatisfaction.
Saturday’s negotiation session culminated in doctors walking out on the government, underscoring the frustration among medical professionals regarding the perceived lack of progress in addressing their concerns.
With the postponement of the planned demonstrations, attention now shifts to the outcome of the ongoing negotiations and whether they will yield tangible results in resolving the grievances of Kenya’s medical community.
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