Doctors in Kajiado have given the county government 14 days to address a raft of grievances, including delayed salary arrears, stalled promotions, lack of medical cover and poor working conditions.

The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) South Rift branch issued the ultimatum after a meeting with county officials failed to resolve the issues, which the union has been pursuing since May.

KMPDU South Rift Chairperson Dr. Sharon Siele noted that the county had failed to implement basic salary arrears already effected in more than 45 other counties.

She also raised concern over the failure to provide functional medical cover for doctors.

Dr. Siele revealed that eight doctors had gone for eight months without salaries, despite statutory deductions continuing to be made from their pay.

The deductions, she explained, had not been remitted to the Social Health Authority (SHA), leaving the affected doctors without active medical cover.

“As we speak, the county deducts the statutory deductions, but they’re not able to remit to SHA. It’s quite unfortunate that we as the union had to fundraise last week for a doctor to be discharged from hospital, because of the non-payment of the arrears,” she said.

Dr. Siele further pointed out that doctors were being forced to meet medical expenses from their own pockets due to the non-functional Comprehensive Medical Cover.

“We are giving them 14 days’ notice for them to act on all the things that we had presented to them. We will take nothing till the issues that we addressed with them are implemented in totality,” she said.

KMPDU South Rift Secretary Dr. Ian Bett identified delayed promotions as another major concern, with some doctors having remained in the same job groups for up to 10 years.

The prolonged delays, he noted, had affected morale among doctors, with the union urging the county to address promotions alongside concerns over working conditions and occupational safety.

Dr. Bett emphasized the need for doctors to perform their duties in a safe environment while receiving their dues and benefits on time.

The union warned that failure to resolve the grievances within the 14-day period would prompt consultations with members on the next course of action, including downing their tools.

 by Rop Janet