The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) has blamed counties for rejecting doctors. The union says counties are employing doctors who belong to their own regions.
According to KMPDU, the country is facing a health crisis as a result of shortage of workers, however the union said a total of 700 doctors posted to the counties hospitals were rejected. Dr. Ouma Oluga, the secretary general of KMPDU, accused the counties for fueling ethnicity and nepotism in employing health workers.
“There is a big problem when counties with no doctors like Kajiado reject doctors. Counties are looking for their own yet there are no doctors of their own,” Oluga said.
- Mombasa rejected five doctors, have a shortage of 69 doctors.
- Murang’a rejected 14, have a shortage of 56 doctors.
- Narok rejected 22, have a shortage of 78 doctors.
- Baringo rejected 19, have a shortage 105 doctors.
- Kajiado rejected 18 , they had advertised for jobs yet they had not received any application.
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The secretary general also disclosed a list of counties that had accepted doctors from outside. They were paying them less as compared to their colleagues who are local residents with the same qualifications and work.
The counties include, Elgeyo Marakwet and Kisii. Others are Migori, Nairobi, Kiambu, Trans Nzoia, Laikipia, Kericho, Kilifi, Marsabit and Tharaka Nithi.
“ Bomet is paying their locals at Job Group Q and non-locals at Job Group M for the same work, same qualification, same time,” Oluga said.
Oluga revealed that counties such as Nyeri, Kisumu, Homa Bay, Bungoma, Nakuru, Makueni and Wajir. The doctors have not been paid from April to date. He urged the government to pay workers well to avoid mass exodus in search of greener pastures.
The cases of health workers downing their tools in demand for better remuneration in Kenya is not new.Currently, nurses in Tharaka Nithi, Chuka General Hospital are on strike over their delayed May 2015 salaries.
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