A crisis meeting, convened by top government officials such as Head of Public Service Dr. Felix Koskei, to discuss the ongoing doctor’s strike and possible solutions, reportedly ended in disarray. CS Moses Kuria echoed the government’s stance, stating that there is no way doctors can be treated as special public servants.
Speaking to the media shortly after the meeting, CS Kuria protested the doctors’ proposal to earn Kshs 200,000 each, arguing that for such a proposal to be considered, he would table another proposal to have all public servants treated equally.
Public service CS Hon. Moses Kuria chats with Deputy President Hon. Rigathi Gachagua during a past state event
CS Moses Kuria said, ‘We know 1 million people consume over 50% of tax revenue; this is wrong. If the doctors think we’re against them, I will move to the Cabinet to present a proposal that all government workers be converted to contract status. There will be no permanent positions, only contract and pensionable roles.’
Meanwhile, doctors led by Davji Atellah have maintained their stance, asserting that they remain unmoved and insisting that the 2017 Collective Bargaining Agreement be honored.
He faulted the doctors over their demands in the 2017 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), which among other things seeks that they be employed on permanent and pensionable terms.
Deputy President Hon. Rigathi Gachagua gestures as he explains a point to CS. Moses Kuria after Karen meeting
Kuria threatened to table the proposal before the Cabinet to show the doctors that the government is not against fulfilling their demands, but that those demands are unattainable.
“If the doctors think we’re against them, this week on Friday I will move to Cabinet to present a proposal that if Cabinet approves, all government workers from drivers to cleaners…everybody will be converted to contract,” said the CS.
