Medical officers stage protest in Eldoret over internship pay and healthcare conditions

By Robert Mutasi

Medical officers and other health professionals took to the streets in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County, on Friday to express their grievances against the government over what they termed as mishandling of the health department, especially on unpaid internship. 

Led by the Kenya Union of Clinical Officers, the protest highlighted the concerns of medical interns, whom they said had been denied salaries despite being important workers in the health sector.

The branch secretary of KUCO at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, Xavier Wamalwa, gave a statement to the press, citing how badly the lack of pay had affected the medical interns.

"We are here to register our displeasure with this government for assaul ting the medical profession, especially the interns who are so vulnerable," Wamalwa declared, adding that recently one medical officer intern collapsed due to depression caused by financial stress. 

Wamalwa warned that failure to compensate clinical officer interns, nurses, and other medical professionals could have disastrous repercussions on the health sector.

"Let them not go down the same way the doctor went. If the government continues to neglect them, healthcare across the country will be paralyzed," he said. 

The protest revolved around demands by the interns to have the government respect Collective Bargaining Agreements that decide on the actual compensations for health workers.

According to Wamalwa, even in instances where court orders have ruled in their favor, the government has withheld pay.

 "Our fear is that now the courts are being manipulated by the government. What is the problem with the court declaring that the internship pay is implemented according to the CBAs?" he asked.

The protest also discussed increasing health care costs for civil servants under the new Shiv health insurance scheme rolled out.

Demonstrators complained of new increased premiums that offered less to the public servant and the public in general. Wamalwa said most Kenyans are being pushed into losing health cover by the shrinking benefits.

"You are actually coming for the last coin that is left on the payslips of the civil servants to pay for Shiv with shrunk benefits," Wamalwa said, warning that soon the people may find themselves without access to medical services. 

He called upon all Kenyans to take action, saying, "you will be going to the hospital and be told your cover doesn't work."

Medical staff called for immediate reforms while ensuring that there is fair compensation for the interns and accessible healthcare to all Kenyans during the unfolding of the demo. 

Protesters vowed to continue their demands till the government acts on their concerns.