Nationwide doctor strike leaves Kenyans stranded as hospitals grind to halt

By Andrew Wasike

NAIROBI, Kenya (AA) - Doctors across Kenya left patients stranded when they chose to stay away from public hospitals Thursday, despite a court order to prevent a nationwide strike.

The strike affiliated with the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU), the largest medical professional organization in Kenya, with more than 8,000 members, has caused significant disruptions in the country’s health care system, crippling key services.

Reports from Nairobi, Mombasa, Eldoret, Migori, Nyeri, and Kisumu paint a picture of chaos and frustration.

Steve Ndonga, a KMPDU official in Kisumu, said that the union does not acknowledge the court order because it does not apply to all hospitals.

Patients seeking emergency care, routine checkups and critical procedures were turned away by overwhelmed staff or forced to seek alternative, often more expensive treatment at private facilities.

"At Coast General Hospital, we're currently providing only essential services, particularly emergency care. Non-urgent services are temporarily unavailable and several wards have been closed due to staffing shortages due to the strike," Dr. Khalib Salim told Anadolu.

"Our decision to limit services is driven by the need for improved working conditions concerning staffing, among many other grievances," he added.

The situation is especially worrisome for those with chronic health conditions who need frequent medical care. Many have been compelled to resort to expensive private clinics.

The KMPDU maintains that the strike is a last resort to address grievances, primarily concerning delays in the placement of medical interns, which has led to understaffing, with a delay in posting 1,200 medical interns at hospitals.

Health Minister Susan Nakhumicha dismissed KMPDU's demands as unrealistic, citing the ministry's lack of authority in posting medical interns.

She urged realism due to budget constraints.