Return to work or face sack- Governor Sakaja to striking doctors

The doctors are protesting against both the national and county governments' failure to honor the 2017 collective bargaining agreement

Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has issued a 12-hour ultimatum to striking county doctors, demanding they return to work by Thursday morning or face replacement.

Sakaja's stern directive comes amid a doctors' strike that has significantly impacted healthcare services in the county.

In a statement made on Wednesday evening outside City Hall, Governor Sakaja announced that the county government is in the process of recruiting intern doctors, arguing that the strike by the current medical staff is unjustified.

"I'm not only speaking to the union but directly to the individual doctors employed by Nairobi City County. We have fulfilled your requests. There is no justification for a strike. I expect you to return to your duties," he said.

The meeting with county health sector leadership, which included representatives from the Kenya Medical Practitioners Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU), preceded Sakaja's announcement. Despite the governor's demands, KMPDU Secretary-General Dr. Davji Atellah responded that the doctors' return to work is contingent upon the fulfillment of their demands.

"The governor's demands cannot simply call the doctors back without addressing their issues," Dr. Atellah told The Eastleigh Voice.

The strike, which saw a walkout of 4,000 doctors, began on March 14. The doctors are protesting against both the national and county governments' failure to honor the 2017 collective bargaining agreement, which promised significant improvements to their working conditions and has yet to be fully implemented.

Among the key issues driving the strike are demands for comprehensive medical insurance for healthcare workers and the immediate deployment of 4,000 medical interns, essential for completing the mandatory one-year internship required for full medical licensure.

The Ministry of Health has indicated that accommodating the current batch of medical interns would require a budget allocation of Sh4.9 billion. The situation is expected to worsen with the impending graduation of an additional 4,000 medical students in July.

Additionally, the Kenya Medical Association (KMA) has voiced opposition to the Electronic Tax Invoice Management System (eTIMS), introduced by the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) under the Finance Act of 2023. The KMA has called for a suspension of eTIMS in the medical sector, citing concerns over patient confidentiality and the inappropriate sharing of sensitive information with the government.