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In a development following a strike notice, three additional health unions have commenced indefinite strike action.
Public Health Officers, Nutritionists, and Pharmaceutical Technologists have declared the initiation of an indefinite strike starting Tuesday, April 9, accompanied by planned peaceful demonstrations nationwide.
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Union officials from the Kenya Environmental Health and Public Health Practitioners Union (KEHPHPU), the Kenya National Union of Pharmaceutical Technologists (KNUPT), and the Kenya Union of Nutritionists and Dieticians (KUNAD) jointly announced the strike, citing a lack of response to their grievances despite issuing a seven-day ultimatum to the Ministry of Health and County Governments.
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Expressing regret over the ignored ultimatum, the unions emphasized their decision to proceed with the strike due to the absence of substantive action from the authorities.
Additionally, the unions accused medical practitioners who declined to participate in the strike of facing intimidation and threats from their striking colleagues, disrupting healthcare services.
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Previously, on April 3, 2024, the Employment and Labour Relations Court mandated parties involved in the dispute to engage in conciliation and negotiation processes within 14 days and submit a memorandum of understanding on minimum service guarantees in public health institutions.
Amidst the escalating situation, the Kenya Medical Practitioners Pharmacists and Dentists’ Union (KMPDU) mobilized medical students and interns for nationwide protests, while clinical officers and healthcare workers employed under the Universal Healthcare program staged demonstrations, demanding improved conditions.
The government maintains its stance, citing financial constraints in meeting the salary demands of the striking medical personnel.
