Doctors storm parliament to stage demos on Tuesday, April 9, 2024. Activities around parliament have been paralysed as doctors stage demos outside the August house....CONTINUE READING THE FULL ARTICLE>>>
Holding placards, the medics sat at the entrance to parliament and blocked key roads around parliament buildings.
They sang ‘ bado mapambano’ and blew whistles as they sang. The doctors took over Parliament Road and Harambee Avenue.
They were calling for the hiring of all intern doctors and the implementation of the 2017 CBA. No MP had addressed the medics by the time of going to press.
“Where is the budget for hiring interns? Respect doctors,” one of them said. Parliament security have closed the main gates to contain the situation.
“Our issues must be addressed or we remain on the streets. All NMS (Nairobi Metropolitan Services) doctors must be absorbed,” a doctor said.
The medics were accompanied by police who were keeping an eye on them as they staged a sit-in at the parliament gate. Last week, Head of Public Service Felix Koskei said the government released Sh2.4 billion to facilitate the immediate deployment and posting of the 2023/24 cohort of medical student interns.
KMPDU chairperson Abi Mwachi said they were not ready to take the government offer, adding that the doctors in 2017 ended their strike based on promises that have never been met.
KMPDU advised medical interns not to pick up the letters saying the move was meant to cement what it termed an illegal reduction in their pay.
The Employment and Labour Relations Court stopped the strike on March 13 and ordered mediation. But doctors have repeatedly rubbished the court orders.
Acting Health DG Patrick Amoth has said the issue of internship which remains the elephant in the room has a historical perspective…CONTINUE READING>>
