Kenyan doctors employed in public hospitals have pledged to remain on strike, disregarding President William Ruto’s plea to conclude a prolonged strike that has disrupted healthcare services nationwide.
The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists, and Dentists Union (KMPDU) initiated the strike on 14 March, citing issues such as unpaid salary arrears and government delays in deploying medical interns, among other grievances.
President Ruto appealed to the striking doctors on Sunday, acknowledging the government’s inability to fulfill their demands due to escalating wage bills.
“I recognize the challenges facing our doctors and medical interns in Kenya. However, I urge them to understand that as a nation, we must live within our means,” Mr. Ruto stated.
Responding to President Ruto’s plea, KMPDU secretary general Davji Atellah emphasized that compromising their salaries to address wage bill concerns would amount to exploitation.
“The doctors’ wages are as vital as any other Kenyan’s salary,” Mr. Atellah affirmed.