Kenya: Health Workers Issue Strike Notice Over Delayed Salaries

By Samuel Ouma [caption id="attachment_105670" align="alignnone" width="609"] Dr Davji Atellah, Secretary General of the Kenya Medical Practitioners Pharmacists Dentists Union (KMPDU[/caption] Kenyan healthcare unions have threatened to strike in seven days if their salaries are not paid on time, and mandatory deductions are not remitted. The unions include the Kenya Medical Practitioners Pharmacists and Dentists Union, the Kenya Union of Clinical Officers, and the Kenya National Union of Nurses, among others. Addressing the press on Tuesday, the workers revealed that out of 47, 40 counties are yet to pay health workers their salaries, stating that those that have been able to pay their employees' wages have reportedly established arrangements with banks for overdrafts and loans. Dr Davji Atellah, Secretary General of the Kenya Medical Practitioners Pharmacists Dentists Union (KMPDU), stated they were tired of numerous blame games between national and county governments concerning finances, drug and equipment acquisition, and healthcare worker employment, which had harmed healthcare service delivery. Atellah stated that despite the fact that health has been devolved for ten years, no suitable structure has been built to ensure healthcare services operate properly and effectively. “A budget should be set aside for annual recruitment of 20,000 additional healthcare workers as promised to Kenyans,” said Dr Atellah. Kenya Union of Clinical Officers chairperson Peterson Wachira expressed disappointment over the events unfolding as a result of the cash shortage that has paralyzed activities in counties due by the Treasury for the fiscal year 2022/2023. "This worrying delay is a historical problem since devolution, which continues to cripple operations in the counties. This blame game is unwarranted and does not serve the interest of anyone especially the sick who need the health services as enshrined in the constitution," said Wachira. Health workers have made many requests, including the National government's quick distribution of cash to counties and the construction of a mechanism to pay healthcare employees directly from a central place. Other demands include the Ministry of Health forming a joint national task force to perform a health audit and identify long-term solutions to the myriad difficulties affecting health service delivery in Kenya. A cash crisis has hit counties after revelations the government is bankrupt. In March, Treasury Principal Secretary Chris Kiptoo told senators that the government is facing severe cash flow problems.