Hospitals crippled as Kenyan doctors go on strike

Thousands of patients continue to be turned away as the doctors’ strike cripple healthcare in Kenya's public hospitals nationwide.

The boycott was called by the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists’ Union (KMPPDU) after negotiations for better pay with the government collapsed.

Most affected are provincial and district hospitals, but the Health ministries ruled out a quick-fix to the crisis.

Medical Services assistant minister Kambi Kazungu said the government could not meet the union’s demands, allegedly because all resources had been channelled to the military operation in Somalia.

“If it was money that they wanted, the government has done that by offering $14 million (Sh1.3 billion) in allowances. It seems they have other matters other than money,” he said, adding that only the Salaries and Remuneration Commission could increase pay for public workers.

Dubbed the Blue Revolution: Operation Linda Afya, the doctors accused Treasury of deliberately underfunding healthcare services.

KMPDU chairman Victor Ng’ani said the strike would continue indefinitely.

“We want to state here today that Treasury is the root cause of the deplorable healthcare in the country. This country should forget attainment of Vision 2030 and Millennium Development Goals if the government cannot fund healthcare,” Dr Ng’ani said.

The protesting doctors Monday marched from Kenyatta National Hospital to Afya House to present a petition to the ministers of Public Health and Medical Services.

But the ministers, Mrs Beth Mugo and Prof Anyang’ Nyong’o, were not in office, neither were their permanent secretaries and line directors.

This enraged the medics, who camped at the ministry singing protest songs.

They later walked to Treasury demanding to be addressed by Finance minister Uhuru Kenyatta or his permanent secretary Joseph Kinyua.

The pair was out, but the group rejected an offer to meet Financial Secretary Mutua Kilaka.