The strike by more than 200 doctor-lecturers at the Moi University Medical School in Eldoret has entered its sixth week with no end in sight.
They are demanding more than Sh200 in enhanced clinical allowances approved and released by the Treasury to the university but not released to the doctors for two years. They refuse to end the strike until they have the money.
They are also demanding another Sh70 million statutory deductions withheld by the university
The Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Union has said it will not call off the strike which started last November and has paralysed learning at the medical school.
The strike started on November 19.
Medical school officials say there has been no disruption.
The money has been withheld by the university that is facing a financial crisis.
No one will or can say where the approved funds went after they were released by the Treasury two years ago.
KMPDU officials led by North Rift branch secretary Dr Kamunzi Mulei said university management led by VC Kosgey had not released money and the strike will continue until it is received.
Kosgey has promised several times the matter will be resolved.
“We will remain on strike, no matter how long it takes until the money is released," Dr Mulei said.
KMPDU has petitioned Education CS George Magoha to intervene and ensure the university pays what it is required to pay.
“In fact, we have demanded the Vice Chancellor of Moi University should be removed to stop his presiding over collapse of this former beacon of higher education," Dr Mulei said.
He said the university was in a desolate state and a pale shadow of its former self. No learning is taking place as all its operations had collapsed.
VC Kosgey has denied causing the financial problems at the university and instead blames "historical problems".
Leader of medical students Jin Rayan Wandia said their studies had been disrupted frequently and due to unending problems most of them were unable to complete their courses and graduate.
“Currently. I am a fifth-year medical student but am now in my eighth year of studies and with what we are going through we may still spend more years here," Wandia said.
Mulei and Dawin Ambuka, who is chairman of the branch, said the university management led by Professor Kosgey had not responded to their demand to be paid their dues.
Mulei said the doctors would remain on strike until the money is released but medical students complained their learning had been interrupted.
The medical school has more than 200 students.
Dr Mulei said the Treasury had released the money to the university after it was approved and asked why it was not released to those who earned it.
Dr Davji Bhimji Atella, the KPMDU secretary general who met the doctors before the strike started, said the university management had illegally diverted the money. The tallowances were enhanced because of the extra work they do at the hospital as doctors, not only lecturer.
Dr Atella said they had written to the EACC to probe how the money went missing at the university.
He said the doctor-lecturers had been patient and engaged in dialogue to no avail.
(Edited by V. Graham)
