- Title: Police use teargas to disperse Kenyan doctors striking over pay
- Date: 5th December 2016
- Summary: NAIROBI, KENYA (DECEMBER 05, 2016) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF DOCTORS IN SURGICAL CAPS PROTESTING AND HOLDING BANNER VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS STANDING OUTSIDE HEALTH MINISTRY HEADQUARTERS PROTESTING MEN TALKING TO POLICE OFFICER MORE OF PROTESTERS STANDING AT THE GATE OF HEALTH MINISTRY HEADQUARTERS PROTESTERS BEING DISPERSED WITH TEARGAS, TEARGAS BEING FIRED AT PROTESTERS PROTESTING DOCTORS RUNNING AWAY FROM TEARGAS, MEDIA CREW FILMING, TEARGAS CAN BEING THROWN AT PROTESTERS PROTESTER KICKING TEARGAS CAN PROTESTERS TALKING TO POLICEMAN SITTING IN POLICE CAR MORE OF PROTESTERS WALKING DOWN THE STREETS HOLDING BANNER OROKO SAMUEL KENYA MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS PHARMACISTS AND DENTISTS' UNION (KMPDU) CHAIRMAN SPEAKING AT NEWS CONFERENCE VARIOUS OF PROTESTING DOCTORS AT NEWS CONFERENCE WEARING SURGICAL CAPS, HOLDING PLACARDS AND SHOWING EMPTY SACKS (SOUNDBITE) (English) KENYA MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS PHARMACISTS AND DENTISTS' UNION (KMPDU) CHAIRMAN, OROKO SAMUEL, SAYING: "Today we, the doctors of this country, have begun a lawful, legal, constitutionally backed total paralysis of all public hospitals." MORE OF PROTESTING DOCTORS WALKING DOWN THE STREETS PLACARD READING (Swahili): "PAY (US ON THE SAME TERMS) AS TENDER (WINNERS)" KMPDU'S BANNER MORE OF PROTESTERS ON THE STREETS
- Embargoed: 20th December 2016 13:37
- Keywords: Kenya doctors strike government
- Location: NAIROBI, KENYA
- City: NAIROBI, KENYA
- Country: Kenya
- Reuters ID: LVA0015BLY8G7
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Kenyan police on Monday (December 5) fired tear gas to disperse a rally of hundreds of doctors in Nairobi demanding pay increase and improvement of working conditions.
The medics, swearing white gowns and surgical caps, were demanding the government honour a 2013 deal to increase their salaries.
Comprising about 5,000 members, the union says the bargaining agreement was to give them a 300 percent pay rise, review of their working conditions and job structures and criteria for promotions, and address under-staffing of medical professionals in state hospitals.
The members of the Kenya Medical Practitioners Pharmacists and Dentists' Union (KMPDU), all working for state hospitals, said they they had given the government enough time to honour the deal.
"Today we, the doctors of this country, have begun a lawful, legal, constitutionally backed total paralysis of all public hospitals, " Samuel Oroko, KMPDU chairman, said.
KMPDU said the strike would affect all public hospitals: those run by the national government and by regional governments - known as counties, and will involve all doctors regardless of their specialisations.
There was no immediate comment from officials at the Ministry of Health on Monday, but Health Cabinet Secretary Cleopa Mailu said on Sunday (December 4) the strike would be unfortunate, given an October 6 court ruling that had handed both parties 90 days to negotiate over the collective bargaining agreement. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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