Doctors from coast asked to travel to Nairobi for strike
Mwachonda Chibanzi, a member of the national executive council of the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Union, in Mombasa on August 8, 2015. PHOTO | WACHIRA MWANGI | NATION MEDIA GROUP
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They will be joined by hundreds of nurses from all the six counties, according to the Kenya National Union of Nurses (Knun) Secretary-General Seth Panyakoo.
Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPPDU) national deputy secretary-general Mwachonda Chibanzi said the strike is on since the government was yet to offer medics a deal.
About 300 doctors from Coast have been asked by their union to travel to Nairobi in readiness for the medics’ national strike on Monday.
All the doctors would down their tools and assemble at the Public Service Club in Upper Hill to demand implementation of a Collective Bargaining Agreement between the medical practitioners and the Ministry of Health, according to union officials.
They will be joined by hundreds of nurses from all the six counties, according to the Kenya National Union of Nurses (Knun) Secretary-General Seth Panyakoo.
Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPPDU) national deputy secretary-general Mwachonda Chibanzi said the strike is on since the government was yet to offer medics a deal.
“This is the culmination of politicians playing with the health of Kenyans,’’ Dr Chibanzi told the Nation by telephone from Nairobi. “As a result, doctors are left with no choice but to result to industrial action.
“It has taken the medical staff three years and 67 days to agitate for their rights.”
Dr Chibanzi works at the Port Reitz District Hospital, the second-largest health institution in Mombasa County.
Mr Panyakoo said the 25,000 nurses in public health facilities countrywide will meet Knun officials in respective counties.
Speaking to the Nation on phone from Nairobi, Mr Panyakoo said on Monday, health workers will hold demonstrations across the country to agitate for their rights.
“How can people earn millions yet nurses earn around Sh16,000? This country is playing with the health sector,” said Mr Panyakoo.
In Mombasa, the nurses trade union’s branch secretary said around 700 nurses will convene at Solidarity Corner at Coast Provincial General Hospital and await instructions from their officials.
“I have mobilised nurses even from peripheral facilities to desert duties,” said Mr Peter Maroko, the Knun Mombasa Branch secretary. “We will notify police, get permits and hold demonstrations from Tuesday.”
