Kenya doctors threaten strike to support nurses' industrial action

Doctors in Kenya have issued a seven-day ultimatum to the government to resolve a prolonged strike by nurses, threatening to join the walkout if demands are not met. The nurses' strike, which has lasted over six weeks, has largely paralyzed services in public hospitals and health centers.

The dispute centers on the implementation of a 2017 collective bargaining agreement (CBA) regarding salaries, allowances, and other benefits. While the agreement was signed years ago, the Council of Governors has resisted implementation, citing budgetary constraints and describing the annual cost of approximately Sh6 billion as “impossible”.

The ongoing industrial action has led to a severe escalation in maternal and newborn deaths across the country, with ten counties, including Nairobi, reporting the highest numbers. The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) stated that doctors are becoming overburdened and cannot safely substitute for specialized nursing care.

While the Council of Governors has urged nurses to call off the strike and noted that courts have ruled the action illegal, union leaders maintain that the government is failing to prioritize healthcare in its budgeting processes.