Officials of the Kenya Medical Practitioners Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) were on Friday kicked out a meeting at the National Treasury after reporting that they had rejected President Uhuru Kenyatta's offer.
The officials had been invited to meet Health Cabinet Secretary Cleopa Mailu and give feedback on the government's offer in a bid to end the doctors' strike that has lasted over a month.
Speaking outside the National Treasury, KMPDU trustee member Alex Muturi divulged that the meeting barely lasted 10 minutes after they declined the Government's offer.
"We expressed the desire to continue with negotiations and receive a counter offer from the government. After presenting our feedback we were told to walk out," Mr Muturi stated.
Prior to the meeting, Secretary General Ouma Oluga announced that they would not accept anything else apart from the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) signed in 2013.
On Wednesday, Kenyatta held a meeting with KMPDU officials at State House, Mombasa, in a bid to end the strike that has entered its 34th day and tabled the following offers for them.
1. In recognition of their professional training, the government offered to raise the entry level grade for doctors to Job Group “M” from Job Group “L” which is higher than the normal entry level for other public servants.
2. Additionally, the minimum gross salary for entry level doctors was increased from the current KSh 140,244 to KSh 196,989.
The increase, according to the offer, would be split into Enhanced Emergency Call allowance and new Doctors’ Risk allowance at a flat rate of Sh10,000 per month.
For Enhanced Emergency Call allowance, the doctors would receive an:
a) Increase to KSh 66,000 from the current KSh 30,000 for Job Group L - an increase of more than 100 percent.
b) Increase to KSh 72,000 from KSh 30,000 for Job Groups M-P - also an increase of much more than 100 percent.
c) Increase to KSh 80,000 from KSh 30,000 for Job Groups Q and above.
3. At the same time, the government reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring equity in the nationwide distribution of doctors; continuous training, and a standard framework of employment across counties – including mechanisms for transfer of doctors and promotions.
