Govt signed 2017 CBA with doctors under duress: Isaac Mwaura

Source: Capital FM Kenya
Author: Phidel Kizito

NAIROBI, Kenya, Apr 10 -- Government Spokesperson Isaac Mwaura now says the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) signed with the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Doctors Union (KMPDU) was agreed upon under duress in the run-up to the 2017 polls.

Mutua, speaking during a press briefing on Tuesday, asserted that it was ridiculous to pay intern doctors Sh206,000 while the average internship pay for all professionals in the public service is capped at Sh25,000.

"We know without a doubt that there is no way an intern should be paid Sh206,000 under a CBA that was signed under duress. There are the same people who are also practicing privately when they have a non-practicing allowance and clinics that are unregulated," said Mwaura.

He asserted that the insistence by doctors to sustain their strikes was an act of sabotage of the Social Health Act enacted by President William Ruto which outlaws private practice when employed in government.

Mwaura's sentiments which have been echoed by the Council of Governors (CoG) come against the backdrop of KMPDU doctors staging a strike Wednesday outside the Ministry of Health.

The medics demanded the full implementation of the 2017 CBA and the posting of interns as the nationwide strike entered its fourth week.

KMPDU Secretary General Davji Bhimji said the strike will continue until all the demands are met, even as Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki outlawed the strike citing a court order.

Kindiki termed defiance among the striking health workers as unacceptable.

He criticized the disregard for the court's directive by the KMPDU, condemning intimidation and threats against doctors who have elected to continue working.

"The participants in the unlawful industrial action have repeatedly threatened to disrupt service delivery in health institutions, to interfere with the daily activities of the non-participating health workers, and to undermine public order generally," Kindiki stated.

The doctors stopped providing emergency services at public hospitals on March 14 as they escalated the strike despite a court order calling for talks between the union and the Health Ministry.