Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Union (KMPDU) Secretary General Davji Atellah has turned down President William Ruto's offer to hire interns and pay them a Ksh70,000 stipend.
In a statement on Sunday shortly after the Head of State made the offer, Atellah revealed the doctors' stance arguing that the money offered will be lower than in previous years.
He further indicated that the medical doctors will not compromise their worth and will only gun for the amount agreed upon in the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
"As Doctors, we refuse to be scapegoats for wage bill reduction. Our salaries, vital like any Kenyan's, are based on fair agreements," he stated.
"Despite government pressure, doctors' salaries, anchored on CBA, are non-negotiable. We won't compromise on fair compensation for our hard work. It's unjust to target us for wage bill control while state officers enjoy hefty paychecks. We stand united against exploitation."
Earlier, the Head of State while speaking during a church service in Eldoret had asked the doctors to return to work and accept their payment terms.
He further explained that the pay would cover the interns for a year before they were absorbed indicating that the government did not have the resources to offer more money.
Ruto had also indicated that the government was working to lower the wage bill which accounted for over 45 per cent of the state's total annual revenue.
"I know we have a situation in Kenya with our doctors and interns. I want to implore on them that it is important for us as a nation that we must live within our means," the President stated.
"We cannot continue to spend the money we do not have. I am telling the doctors that we mind them and we value the service that they give to our nation but we must live within our means."
"The resources we have are only sufficient to pay Ksh70,000 for intern doctors. It is not a salary, it is a stipend for one year and then they are employed," Ruto added.
The doctors went on strike four weeks ago and were joined by their peers from the Kenya Environmental Health and Public Health Practitioners Union, alongside the Pharmaceutical Technologists and Nutritionists.
The three unions want recognition as well as an immediate halt to discrimination and inadequate pay affecting post-interns, including public health interns, nutritionist interns, and pharmaceutical interns.
