KMPDU accuses government of wasteful expenditure than paying Doctors dearly
Dr Davji Attellah, their SG says better Doctors join politics which is paying and leave public hospitals
As Doctors and other healthcare workers enters it’s 45th day of paralyzed health services, public servants especially in teaching fraternity have also joined them today to demand fair share as negotiated with the previous administration back in 2017
Speaking to safinews.co on Tuesday 30th April, Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union, Secretary General Dr Davji Atellah said that they will not accept anything short of all signed collective bargaining agreement and that no resuming to services until their demands are met.
“This government can afford to hire and pay CASs[Cabinet Administrative Secretary] a salary which is over Sh700,000 plus allowances making up to Sh 1,000,000 but; some of them are school dropouts and others are academic dwarfs but they can’t pay Sh 500,000 to Doctors who have spend seven years in school?,” KMPDU SG Dr Davji Attellah wondered.
He vehemently, stated that no part of the agreement will be scrapped and they better get fired come what may.
According to Salaries and Remuneration Commission [SRC] they pegged CASs salaries at Ksh 780,000 every month plus house allowance of – Ksh. 165,000 as well as salary market adjustment of Sh 155,887
The doctors went on strike on March 15 to demand a commitment from the government to fulfill collective bargaining agreements signed in 2017. The work stoppage has paralyzed medical services in public hospitals across the country.
The government said it has addressed all issues raised by the medics — except for the salary of intern doctors — which union officials say is the deal breaker.
“We are not at any point going to support exploitation of workers, we are not at any point going to support wage-slavery,” said Davji Atellah, the secretary-general of KMPDU. “Because we know that our vulnerable members, the intern doctors, once they are touched, once they are exploited, the next step would be the doctors working in the hospital; the next step will be the consultants. If you violate a document that is legal, like collective bargaining agreement, the part of doctor interns, which part of it is safe?”
They camped at Ministry of Health Headquarters in Nairobi and proceeded to Parliament Buildings where they demanded immediate audience with the government before they resume their services, a situation which has seen patients lose thier lives in public hospitals with both parties taking hardline positions without any remorse
University Academic Staff Union [UASU] Secretary General Dr Constantine Wasonga, Kenya Universities Staff Union [KUSU] Secretary General Dr Charles Mukhwaya also accused government for taking professionals so casually
Kenya National Union of Teachers [KNUT] also demanded the government to pay all arrears of their Junior Secondary School teachers who were hired on internship programme particularly those in their second year of internship