KMPDU Declares Machakos Hospital Shutdown Due to Unpaid Doctors

In a hurry? Here’s a quick summary…

• KMPDU threatens a total shutdown of Machakos hospitals due to the county’s failure to honor a 7-year-old CBA and unpaid salaries.
• Doctors plan to demonstrate on December 18, warning of participation in a nationwide strike on December 22 if demands aren’t met.

The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists, and Dentists Union (KMPDU) has issued a stern warning to the Machakos County government, threatening to halt operations in all hospitals across the county. 

This comes in response to what they describe as continued neglect of the grievances raised by striking medics.

Speaking at Machakos Level 5 Hospital on Tuesday, KMPDU Secretary General Dr. Davji Atellah expressed frustration over the county’s failure to address the ongoing crisis. He announced that all doctors, who had been providing minimal services as directed by the court, have now been instructed to completely withdraw their services. 

Dr. Atellah accused the county of ignoring a longstanding Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) and further aggravating the situation by withholding two months’ salaries for striking doctors.

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Dr. Atellah emphasized that unless the county fulfills its obligations by next week, the union will escalate the matter. He warned that doctors would stage demonstrations on Tuesday, December 18, to voice their dissatisfaction with the county’s management. 

“We are asking all doctors, including the medical superintendent, to down their tools completely. The county needs to act,” he stated firmly.

The union leader criticized the county for failing to honor the seven-year-old CBA, which he said includes critical provisions for salary increments. 

According to Dr. Atellah, Machakos County owes its doctors Ksh.62 million, while the national government has an outstanding debt of Ksh.3.5 billion to the medical fraternity. He lamented that the county joins others across the country in failing to pay doctors’ wages for multiple months, leaving medics in financial distress.

Dr. Atellah clarified that the doctors are not on strike to disrupt services but are simply demanding their rights. 

“It is not us who are on strike; it is the county that has refused to pay what is owed and comply with court orders,” he stated. He also warned that if the county fails to resolve these issues, Machakos doctors will fully participate in a nationwide strike planned for December 22.

Meanwhile, Machakos Governor Wavinya Ndeti dismissed the strike as politically motivated. 

However, a visit to the hospital revealed a grim picture, with wards largely deserted and patients seeking treatment in private facilities.

In a related development, Machakos County Secretary Muya Ndambuki termed the doctors’ strike unlawful, adding another layer of contention to the unfolding crisis.