Kenyan doctors issued a three weeks strike notice, accusing the government of failing to
provide them with adequate protective gear in the fight against coronavirus.
Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Union (KMPDU) said they will go on strike
u n l e s s t h e i r p l i g h t i s addressed. The Union said over the last e i g h t m o n t h s , i t h a s continuously engaged all r e l e v a n t g o v e r n m e n t
ministries to no avail. They engaged parastatals and council of governors, the legislature and followed all r e l e v a n t c h a n n e l s i n employment and labour relations in a bid to address the plight of frontline healthcare workers.
“The union had put the industrial action off the table but now we have been forced to review our options,” said Chibanzi Mwachonda, the union’s Secretary-General.
He faulted the government for failing to address their plight, leading to the deaths of at least 30 medical workers, including10 senior specialists.Not even court orders would dampen their resolve to fight for theirrights, Mwachonda said. Coronavirus pandemic has
claimed 20 more lives in the last 24 hours, the Ministry of Health said on Sunday,
bringing to 139 the number virus fatalities this week. It also pushed the number of
those who have succumbed to the virus since March to 1,269.
Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe said 972 people had tested positive raising cases reported since March to 70,245.
“Our cumulative tests are now7 8 9 , 9 5 2 , ” t h e C a b i n e t S e c r e t a r y s a i d w h i l e
announcing that he had convened a special meeting to discuss the surge in infections
and fatalities.