It’s more than salaries, doctors tell Uhuru after Sh4b pay offer
Doctors have scoffed at attempts by the government to portray them as money hungry, saying their strike was more than pay rise.
On Wednesday, the doctors union leaders held a day-long meeting with senior government officials led by President Uhuru Kenyatta at State House, Mombasa.
But at the end of the day, the doctors refused to call off their strike saying a decision would be taken on Friday.
However, the government went on over drive, laying out the details of the Sh4 billion “generous” offer made to the doctors.
The details were tweeted by State House spokesman Manoah Esipisu on Twitter and followed up with a statement to newsroom.
Offered to raise the Enhanced Emergency Call allowance as follows: Increase to KSh 66,000 from the current KSh 30,000 for Job Group L
— Manoah Esipisu MBS (@MEsipisu) January 4, 2017
Increase to KSh 72,000 from KSh 30,000 for Job Groups M to Job Group P, & Increase to KSh 80,000 from KSh 30,000 for Job Groups Q and above
— Manoah Esipisu MBS (@MEsipisu) January 4, 2017
In addition, Government also offered a new Doctors’ Risk allowance at a flat rate of KSh 10,000 per month
— Manoah Esipisu MBS (@MEsipisu) January 4, 2017
This means, minimum gross salary for doctors will rise to KSh 196,989 from KSh 140,244 at full implementation at current entry Job Group L
— Manoah Esipisu MBS (@MEsipisu) January 4, 2017
The total impact of Gvt offer on exchequer is an additional expenditure of KSh 4 billion annually – shared among the nation’s 5,000 doctors
— Manoah Esipisu MBS (@MEsipisu) January 4, 2017
But the doctors’ union maintained that the strike was more than salaries. In fact, their sentiments were first captured by a Kenyan on Twitter.
Doctors are demanding more than just salaries. The offer by the GOK is not sincere. We need commitment of hospital equipment urgently.
— SokoAnalyst (@SokoAnalyst) January 4, 2017
The doctors then followed this with a series of tweets.
1. Kenyans need to understand that we are also agitating for the voiceless through that CBA #CBAismorethancash
— kmpdu (@kmpdu) January 5, 2017
3. The CBA once signed will make sure more doctors are trained to improve on service delivery #CBAismorethancash
— kmpdu (@kmpdu) January 5, 2017
4. The CBA addresses funding research that will open doors for clinical trials that will improve on treatment practices #CBAismorethancash
— kmpdu (@kmpdu) January 5, 2017
Its obvious from their statements that the government is trying to hoodwink Kenyans that its all about our salaries #CBAismorethancash
— kmpdu (@kmpdu) January 5, 2017
What’s your take? Should doctors call off the strike after getting pay rise and forgo hospital conditions? Tell us in the comments section.