Eldoret: Health workers at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) have issued a one-week strike ultimatum to the government, citing worsening working conditions, non-remittance of statutory deductions, and severe underfunding of the facility. Addressing the media on Tuesday in Eldoret, union representatives from various health sector bodies warned that services at the country's second-largest referral hospital would be paralyzed if their grievances are not addressed within seven days.
According to Kenya News Agency, Beatrice Chelule of the Kenya National Union of Nurses highlighted that staff were working under extremely difficult conditions, including a lack of medical cover and essential supplies. She stated that healthcare workers are forced to cater for their own treatment due to the lack of insurance, while patients are not receiving adequate services because of shortages, signaling a crisis that requires urgent government intervention.
Dr. Edwin Rono, Branch Secretary of the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Union (KMPDU), emphasized that the strike notice follows months of unsuccessful negotiations with hospital management. He pointed out that statutory deductions and loan repayments have not been remitted for over six months, leading to accumulated pension arrears and leaving retiring staff without due benefits. He also noted the acute understaffing issue, which has left remaining staff overstretched due to the failure to replace workers exiting through retirement and attrition.
KUDHEIHA Chairman Japheth Keitany attributed the crisis to significant budget cuts, which he said have crippled hospital operations and eroded staff morale. He lamented that the institution, once known for exemplary services, is now struggling due to reduced funding, with demoralized workers, particularly those nearing retirement without assurance of their benefits.
Stephen Tanui, a representative from the Kenya National Union of Medical Laboratory Officers (KNUMLO), expressed concerns over the non-remittance of statutory deductions amounting to approximately Sh 2 billion and loan installments, causing financial institutions to pursue staff directly for unpaid loans. Union officials further warned that key hospital services, including critical care units and some operating theatres, have either been closed or scaled down due to a lack of resources.
Dr. Darwin Ambuka, Vice Chairperson of the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) North Rift, highlighted that health workers are facing financial distress due to unremitted statutory deductions, leaving many unable to meet basic needs and eroding confidence in management and the government. The unions have called for urgent government intervention, proposing at least Sh5 billion to stabilize operations and restore essential services.
The unions urged the Cabinet Secretary for Health, Aden Duale, to visit the facility and assess the situation firsthand. They have issued the government with a seven-day ultimatum to address their grievances, warning that failure to act will result in a total shutdown of services at MTRH. The planned strike is expected to significantly disrupt healthcare services in the North Rift region and beyond, as MTRH serves patients from across Kenya and neighboring countries.