State threatens sackings after doctors ‘frustrate’ talks

Striking doctors are now staring at possible loss of jobs should they refuse to sign a negotiated return-to-work formula on Monday.

Head of Public Service Felix Koskei who chairs the 'Whole of the Nation Approach' committee said the government will next week seek court orders to institute disciplinary action against the doctors after they introduced new demands.

"We are going to petition the court to allow us to take any necessary action to alleviate the problem that is obtaining and at the same time to ensure that the lives and health of people of Kenya are safeguarded," Koskei said.

His remarks came after the doctors’ union officials on Friday declined to sign the agreed terms after daylong talks.

The doctors said nothing had changed in the document.

Speaking after the medics walked out of the talks, Koskei said upon receipt of the court order, the government will utilise the Sh2.4 billion allocated for hiring intern doctors for other intervening priorities like floods.

"The more they stay, we shall reallocate that money to intervene on immediate and urgent issues like floods and other things. We don't have the luxury of time and unlimited resources," he said.

According to the Head of Public Service, the government does not have money to accommodate all demands fronted by the doctors.

Koskei said the government will seek orders to compel the doctors to report to work failing which the government will proceed and recruit new doctors.

Tharaka Nithi Governor Muthomi who is also the Council of Governors (CoG) Health Committee chair said the government has met almost 99.9 per cent of the issues raised by doctors.

Initially, he said, they had agreed not to victimise the striking doctors and they are still committed to the course.

He, however, added that if doctors fail to report to work, the government will sack them.

"When you have negotiated and you have almost 99.9 per cent of the issues in compliance, then I don't think 0.1 per cent can make you still want the strike to stay on," he said.

Koskei said the replacements will be conducted in strict adherence to Labour laws.

Health CS Susan Nakhumicha accused the doctors of insincerity adding that they introduced fresh demands.

"The doctors were getting out to consult, they came back inside and we continued to negotiate until the last minute when they said that their constitution does not allow them to sign the documents at night and on the issues that they introduced that were not initially in the document," she added.

The CS said that the government and doctors failed to negotiate on only one issue; the posting of interns.

Nakhumicha said doctors, however, introduced fresh demands.

"They want the government to pay salaries to self-sponsored registrars. As a doctor, you say that you want to enrol for Masters telling the university that you will pay for yourself and now they are asking the government to pay for them," she said.

The CS added that the ministry has already signed the agreement, which now awaits to be deposited in court on Monday.

Nandi Governor Stephen Sang echoed her sentiments saying the doctors shifted goal posts at the tail end of the negotiations and tabled a totally different document.

"The issues they have raised today (Friday) are different from the ones they raised in the senate yesterday (Thursday). There is a consistent trail of dishonesty from the part of doctors and shifting goal posts," he said.

The governor said they wait to see if the doctors will hold the end of their bargain and sign the mutuallly agreed document on Monday.

Doctors have been on strike since March 14.

They are demanding full implementation of their Colledtive Bargaining Agreement signed in 2017.

They listed a total of 19 issues they wanted resolved, top among them the posting of medical interns on a Sh206,000 monthly salary.

The government has offered Sh70,000 monthly stipend which they have rejected.