The Kenya Medical Practitioners Pharmacists and Dentists’ Union (KMPDU) has issued a notice of a planned demonstration to push the government to act on their demands.
According to a notice signed by KMPDU Secretary General Dr. Davji Atellah, the procession is scheduled for Thursday, March 21, 2024, starting at 9:00 am.
“We are writing to notify you of our plan to organise a peaceful procession to address the Ministry of Health’s blatant disregard for the concerns affecting Kenyan doctors as raised in the Notice of industrial action,” the notice read.
The medics intend to start the procession from the Kenyatta National Hospital, Ngong Road, Ministry of Health, Parliament, National Treasury and subsequently to the Council of Governors in Westlands.
“In light of the importance of maintaining order and ensuring the safety of all participants, we kindly request your assistance in providing security during this event. Your cooperation and support in facilitating a peaceful and orderly procession would be greatly appreciated,” the notice further read.
This comes amid the ongoing strike by doctors across the country, which has paralysed services in public hospitals.
The doctors are demanding, among others, the posting of medical interns, release of funds allocated for the deployment of the interns and payment of post-graduate fees.
On February, Atellah was hit and injured by a teargas canister thrown by the police when doctors demonstrated in Nairobi to make the demands.
This prompted the doctors to call for the shutdown of all public hospitals in the country in protest of the attack.
The attack also attracted widespread condemnation towards the police.
