•This comes as the strike which started on March 14 entered its third week.
•SG Atellah further warned against what he termed as misuse of court orders to coerce the union into suspending the strike
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Doctors have hit back at the government over what they have termed as the use of intimidation to coerce them to resume work.
The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union in a statement on Monday said no amount of duress will make striking doctors go back to work.
This comes as the strike which started on March 14 entered its third week.
KMPDU Secretary General Davji Atellah said governors, management of national referral hospitals and the Ministry of Health are demanding that doctors return to work under duress instead of addressing the demands raised in the strike notice.
"We categorically denounce such attempts to intimidate and coerce our members into abandoning our legitimate struggle for better working conditions and healthcare services for all Kenyans," Atellah said.
"We want to make it clear that doctors will not be intimidated or coerced back to work until all the concerns raised in our strike notice are fully resolved," he added.
According to Atellah, the government should instead focus their attention and efforts on addressing the myriad of issues affecting the healthcare workers in their respective places of work.
He further warned against what he termed as misuse of court orders to coerce the union into suspending the strike.
Atellah noted that while the union respects the judiciary, it is unacceptable for employers who are in contempt of court orders to weaponise the legal system against doctors for decent and dignified work.
"Strikes are a fundamental tool and cornerstone of collective bargaining and last resort for workers to compel belligerent employers to engage in meaningful negotiations," the SG said.
"No amount of threats, legal maneuvers or death threats will deter doctors from advocating for better healthcare system for all Kenyans," he noted.
The union has been categorical that even though they are ready to engage with the employers, issues such as posting of interns will not be negotiable.
They have maintained that the posting of interns is something that should commence immediately and want the ministry to ensure they are well compensated.
Furthermore, there are concerns regarding recurrent delays in salary payments and failure to remit statutory deductions and to address loan repayments promptly.
Another pressing matter is the lack of comprehensive medical insurance coverage for union members, both at county and national government levels.
Additionally, the union advocates for the conversion of temporary contracts for doctors in counties to permanent and pensionable terms.