Striking doctors have continued with their industrial action despite Interior and national administration cabinet secretary professor Kithure Kindiki terming it as unlawful.
KMPDU have today staged a major demonstration outside the Ministry of Health piling pressure on the government over demands that include the resignation of Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha.
Despite a government offer of 2.4 billion shillings so as to resume work the doctors have urged for a full implementation of the 2017 Collective Bargaining Agreement and the posting of interns as the ongoing nationwide strike enters its fourth week.
This according to Kindiki is a total defiance to the constitution, terming it unacceptable.
He has criticized disregard for the court’s directive by KMPDU condemning intimidation and threats against doctors who have elected to continue working.
“The participants 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,” CS Kindiki stated.
Kindiki directed rigorous enforcement to protect medical professionals who have chosen not to participate in the strike.
The doctors stopped providing emergency services at public hospitals on March 14 as they escalated the strike despite a court order calling for talks between the union and the Health Ministry.
The standoff has left thousands of Kenyans without much-needed public health services.
President William Ruto had earlier stated the government is willing to implement the collective bargaining agreement, but in phases due to financial constraints.