Kindiki declares medics strike unlawful, orders crackdown on striking doctors

CS says striking doctors have attempted to intimidate and threaten violence against health workers who have opted out of the "unlawful" industrial action.

The Interior Cabinet Secretary, Kithure Kindiki has declared the ongoing doctors’ strike illegal.

In a statement on Tuesday, the Interior CS said that the doctors who are on strike have attempted to intimidate and threaten violence against other health workers who have opted not to participate in the "unlawful" strike.

Kindiki also noted that the health workers who are involved 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.

“Gatherings, protests or whatever other actions in pursuit of grievances outside the law and in breach of court directives undermines the constitutional order of the Country and are, therefore, not permissible,” he said.

As a result, the CS has now directed security agencies to protect the public and doctors who are on duty.

“Law enforcement agencies are directed to ensure strict maintenance of law and order to protect the general public and the health workers who have chosen to obey the court order by providing services pending the resolution of the labour dispute,” Kindiki said.

Court order

Kindiki added that the ministry had noted that the participants in the industrial action have continued to defy the courts regarding the industrial action which is now in its third week.

A court order had been issued on March 13, which sought to halt the industrial action pending further negotiations.

Principal Judge Byram Ongaya, in his ruling, emphasised the need for dialogue and urged the Ministry of Labour and Social Services to facilitate discussions between the Cabinet Secretary for Health, Susan Nakhumicha, and the striking doctors to address their grievances.

Over the weekend, Kenya Medical Practitioners Pharmacists Dentists Union threatened to scale up the ongoing doctors' strike if the government did not meet their demands despite President William Ruto urging the medics to call off their industrial action.



Speaking on Sunday during a church service at the AIC Church in Eldoret, Ruto said the country cannot afford the demands by the doctors as it is struggling with a huge wage bill.

This comes after the government released Sh2.4 billion to facilitate the immediate deployment and posting of the 2023–24 cohort of medical student interns.

However, the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Union (KMPDU) rejected the offer, arguing that it had not fully honoured the 2017 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).

Ruto emphasised that doctors need to realise the country doesn't have the resources to raise wages for its workers.

He said the country is spending Sh1.1 trillion every year of the Sh2.2 trillion collected on salaries and wages.

The president stressed that the country must learn to use the available resources instead of resorting to borrowing to pay wages.

However, KPMDU officials, led by secretary general Dr Davji Atella, met with doctors in Eldoret and declared that there was no turning back.

“In fact, if they continue to play games and politics with this issue then we will scale up things and remain on strike as long as the government wants,” he said.

The health workers had earlier announced that they would hold massive peaceful demonstrations in Nairobi on Tuesday.

The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union said the demos will start from Kenyatta National Hospital to Parliament.