Striking Nairobi doctors ordered to return to work
What you need to know:
- Doctors who are on leave have been recalled.
- Dr Thuranira added that the union met county officials on Thursday last week but no agreement was reached, prompting the strike.
- He said 128 doctors have not been promoted since 2011.
The Nairobi County government has ordered doctors who are on strike to resume work immediately.
Nairobi County executive committee member for health Bernard Muia declared the strike as illegal and said disciplinary action will be taken against those who defy the directive.
He also said doctors who are on leave have been recalled.
Health services at some Nairobi hospitals had been paralysed following a silent protest by the doctors demanding their pay for the last six months and delayed promotions.
The doctor’s union secretary-general Ouma Olunga said the medics chose to protest silently because they fear being victimised.
Dr Olunga said besides unpaid salaries, the doctors are unhappy about delayed promotions and the county's failure to remit their NHIF deductions for the last eight months.
Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentist Union Nairobi branch chairman Thuranira Kaugiria said the strike started at midnight on Sunday after the county failed to implement a memorandum of understanding signed in October last year following a countywide strike.
He said the county and the doctors signed a return-to-work formula that has not been put to effect.
Dr Kaugiria said the union wants doctors still on probation to be employed on permanent terms.
He said 128 doctors have not been promoted since 2011.
The doctors also want their salaries to be paid on the fifth day of every month.
Dr Kaugiria added that the union met county officials on Thursday last week but no agreement was reached, prompting the strike.
He said the county officials do not see their grievances as a priority.
