The Lower Eastern Times Opening The Third Eye
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Doctors in Kitui County have initiated their strike as the 14-day notice they issued at the end of last month concluded on February 7, 2024.
The strike notice was issued by the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists, and Dentists Union (KMPDU), the umbrella body for doctors, after a meeting addressing their concerns on January 24, 2024.
Their grievances include labor exploitation, pointing to years of enduring staff shortages, burnout, career stagnation, and demotivation due to stalled promotions. The medical practitioners also expressed frustration over the denial of postgraduate study leaves and the county government’s continuous failure to fulfill promises to resolve their issues.
Dr. Davji Atellah, KMPDU Secretary General, emphasized the need to adhere to the 2017 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), the Employment Act, and all labor laws. He stated, “The plan to frustrate and mistreat doctors to the brink of depression can no longer be accepted as business as usual and must be halted.”
Adding to this, Dr. Atellah urged doctors to stand united against labor injustices, stating, “A crocodile-infested river cannot be easily crossed by an individual, and as a group, we urge all doctors to be our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers in maintaining the dignity of our profession.”
The strike by doctors in Kitui County officially commenced on Thursday midnight after negotiations between the union and the county government to address the outstanding grievances collapsed.
