Health workers at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) have issued a one-week strike ultimatum to the government, citing worsening working conditions, non-remittance of statutory deductions and severe underfunding of the facility.
Addressing the media on Tuesday in Eldoret, Union representatives drawn from various health sector bodies warned that services at the country’s second-largest referral hospital would be paralysed if their grievances are not addressed within seven days.
Speaking on behalf of nurses, Beatrice Chelule, of the Kenya National Union of Nurses, said staff were working under extremely difficult conditions, including a lack of medical cover and essential supplies.
“Healthcare workers are forced to cater for their own treatment due to lack of insurance, while patients are not receiving adequate services because of shortages. The institution is in crisis and requires urgent government intervention,” she said.
Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Union (KMPDU) Branch Secretary, Dr. Edwin Rono said the strike notice follows months of unsuccessful negotiations with hospital management.
“We have held numerous meetings that have not yielded results. Statutory deductions and loan repayments have not been remitted for over six months, while pension arrears have accumulated to billions. Staff retiring today are leaving empty-handed,” said Dr. Rono.
He added that the Hospital is grappling with acute understaffing, noting that failure to replace workers exiting through retirement and attrition has left remaining staff overstretched.
KUDHEIHA Chairman Japheth Keitany attributed the crisis to significant budget cuts, saying the reduction in funding had crippled hospital operations and eroded staff morale.
“This institution, which once performed exemplary services, is now struggling due to reduced funding. Workers are demoralised, especially those nearing retirement without assurance of their benefits,” he said.
Stephen Tanui, Representatives from the Kenya National Union of Medical Laboratory Officers (KNUMLO), also decried the non-remittance of statutory deductions, approximately Sh 2 billion and loan instalments, saying financial institutions had begun pursuing staff directly for unpaid loans.
Union officials further warned that key hospital services, including critical care units and some operating theatres, have either been closed or scaled down due to lack of resources.
Dr. Darwin Ambuka, the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) North Rift Vice Chairperson, said health workers are facing financial distress due to unremitted statutory deductions, leaving many unable to meet basic needs and eroding confidence in management and the government.
They called on the government to urgently inject additional funding into the hospital, with some leaders proposing at least Sh5 billion to stabilize operations and restore essential services.
The unions urged the Cabinet Secretary for Health, Aden Duale, to visit the facility and assess the situation firsthand.
The unions have issued the government with a seven-day ultimatum to address their grievances, warning that failure to act will result in a total shutdown of services at MTRH.
The planned strike is expected to significantly disrupt healthcare services in the North Rift region and beyond, as MTRH serves patients from across Kenya and neighbouring countries.
By Fredrick Maritim and Ekuwam Sylvester
