Medical interns protest delayed wages
By George.Kebaso, May 30, 2023Medical interns hit the streets of Nairobi yesterday and demanded payment of their four months’ delayed salary as they pushed for the posting of unemployed colleagues.
They insisted all their salaries arrears must be paid.
The medical interns who were later joined by Kenya Medical Practitioners Pharmacists and Dentist Union (KMPDU) leadership camped at Afya House where they handed in their petition indicating they will continue picketing until their dues are paid in full.
“Our colleagues have stayed home for 7 months plus without posting, yet Kenyans need licensed doctors, and the ones who are working have not had Ugali for 5 months,” they shouted as they flashed placards, some of them with messages such; “Daktari hawezi angalia mgonjwa vizuri juu ya njaa” translated as, “doctors are unable to attend to patients well because they are hungry.”
It emerged that after two weeks of demonstrations, the Ministry of Health has only paid medical interns only a month’s salary instead of four, whereas those who have not been posted are told to wait until July for further communication.
“As a medical student, I feel their pain. The gruelling pain of medical school, the kind of work that medics do surely their salaries should never delay,” a student who joined her protesting colleagues in solidarity, stated.
Waited for six months
On her part, Dr Timina Wasilwa noted that after waiting for almost six months to get posted, it has been promise after promise. “No savings, now no pay. This is unacceptable..the only language that interns can speak is money in their account,” she said.
Further, she pointed out that; “we are here for the colleagues who have to choose between food and fare, rent and decent clothing, those who cry at the thought of work without money. Pay medical interns”!
On his part, Dr Andrew Githiria called on medical interns to be aware that as they picketed for their dues, the constitution is all they have to hang on to.
“Dear young medics! Article 37 of the Constitution of Kenya is your refuge: Every person has the right, peaceably and unarmed, to assemble, to demonstrate, to picket, and to present petitions to public authorities”!
He added, “the arc of moral universe is long but it always bends towards justice…..all we are asking the Ministry of Health is to walk the talk.”
They called on Health Cabinet secretary, Susan Nakhumicha to fulfil her unending promises to address the issue on the table.
“You vowed to clean your house; we are waiting for the results. Kindly help the young un-posted medics,” the intern doctors said.
In March, the doctors issued a one-week ultimatum to the government to pay interns their five-month arrears or face industrial action.
This was after Dr Davji Atellah and union leaders met representatives of the intern doctors and vowed to hold demonstrations to push for their pay should the situation remain the same.
“We are already engaged with the Ministry of Health, but if we do not get feedback on the way forward, we will hold peaceful demonstrations. This will be a weekly demonstration until the matter is resolved,” said Dr Atellah, KMPDU Secretary General.
And yesterday the medical interns with support of the doctors’ union seem to have kicked off the weekly protests dubbed #MaanadamanoMonday.