On the evening of July 8, a compelling scene unfolded outside Afya House, the Ministry of Health headquarters in Nairobi, as medical interns in Kenya gathered in protest.
Their camp, set up amidst light showers, became a beacon of frustration and determination, illuminated by candles and flashlights as they stood together, waving Kenyan flags and singing the national anthem.
This demonstration marked a significant escalation in the ongoing struggle between medical interns and the government over the implementation of the 2017 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
The agreement, which promised among other things the timely posting of medical interns, had become a focal point of discontent among healthcare professionals who have waited anxiously to begin their internships for nearly two years.
The decision to stage this protest came precisely sixty days after a return-to-work agreement was signed between the government and the Kenya Medical Practitioners Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU).
This agreement was meant to resolve various issues, including the grievances of medical interns, within a stipulated two-month period. However, with little progress made and promises unfulfilled, the interns took matters into their own hands, disillusioned with the pace of negotiations and the perceived lack of action.
Throughout the day preceding the protest, interns had picketed outside Afya House, echoing their frustrations with placards that bore messages like "Nakhumicha must go!" Their dissatisfaction stems not only from delayed postings but also from what they perceive as inadequate representation and advocacy by the KMPDU, the union entrusted with defending their professional rights.
Reports indicate that discussions between the Ministry of Health and KMPDU officials have been ongoing since the previous week, with efforts to resolve the impasse intensifying.
A senior official disclosed that while the KMPDU had successfully addressed several issues in previous strikes, the matter of medical interns' postings had remained unresolved due to bureaucratic hurdles within the Ministry.
On the morning of July 8, KMPDU Secretary General Dr. Davji Atellah arrived at Afya House for a closed-door meeting with CS Nakhumicha and other Ministry officials.
The meeting was convened to review the commitments made during the signing of the return-to-work formula in May.
Shortly after the meeting concluded, both Dr. Davji and CS Nakhumicha departed for the National Treasury, signaling an escalation in efforts to resolve the standoff over intern postings and payment.
The origins of this protest can be traced back to a tense overnight meeting on May 8, where negotiations between the government and KMPDU reached an impasse.
These negotiations were driven by a court order demanding the development of a return-to-work formula by May 9, failing which the court would intervene to arbitrate the dispute.
Despite assurances from the government that postgraduate school fees for doctors from 2018 would be covered by July 1, and the promise of comprehensive medical cover for Kenyan doctors by the same date this year, these commitments remain unmet.
This failure has prompted frequent visits by KMPDU officials to the Ministry, seeking to compel action on long-standing grievances.
Many have expressed their disappointment with the KMPDU's handling of the situation, prompting some interns to declare their intention to advocate independently through social media and other platforms.
In response to questions about the government's progress on resolving the intern crisis, a Ministry official highlighted ongoing discussions with the KMPDU and expressed optimism about reaching a resolution soon.
However, with tensions running high and the interns' patience wearing thin, the situation outside Afya House remains a poignant reminder of the challenges facing Kenya's healthcare system.
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