Medical students at Moi University will be forced to stay at home longer due to the ongoing doctor-lectures strike.
Postgraduate and undergraduate students at the University’s College of Health Sciences have not been learning since the strike started about three months ago.
There are no signs of the strike coming to end with the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentist Union (KMPDU) officials saying there has been no offer from the university.
KMPDU North Rift chairman Dr. Dawrin Ambuka says Moi University management has no option but to come up with a return to work formula if they want their members to resume offering teaching services.
“The strike continues as the demands that we gave 2-3 months ago have not been met. We have not had an opportunity to engage with the university,” noted Dr. Ambuka.
The doctor-lecturers are demanding over Ksh200 million from the university – which are payments for their enhanced clinical allowances contained in the 2017 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
“We have to have all monies paid in total, intimidation tactics wiped in totality and we would talk about ending the strike,” noted the KMPDU North Rift chairman.
The doctors’ union officials further say there are multiple donors willing to help raise the money their members are demanding but the Moi University management has not shown any willingness to engage them.
KMPDU national chairman Dr. Davji AttellaH says the impact of the strike is being felt all over the globe, with international partners of Moi University and the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital also being affected.
“There are many organizations willing to help but Moi University is not cooperating,” said Dr. Atellah.
He is now warning that post-graduate students at the university risk being recalled by their respective county governments if the strike continues.
But even as the Moi University doctor-lecturers strike continues, the union officials say they are mulling seeking the removal of the Vice-Chancellor and other top officials for their inability to run the institution.
“These funds were released to all public universities but only Moi University has been playing a lot of games. If the management is unable to run the institution, we need to petition the removal of the VC, and an audit of the finances,” noted the KMPDU boss.
For now, and until the striking doctors’ demands will be met, medical students will be forced to remain at home.
