Majority of Kenyans want medics to resume work - Ipsos

A huge chunk of Kenyan population is against the ongoing doctor’s strike that has paralyzed services in public health facilities for over six weeks. This is according to a recent report released by a pollster Ipsos Kenya.

In a survey conducted between January 9th and 26th, a record 65 per cent of Kenyans want the industrial action to end, despite the ongoing blame game between the government and doctors over the impasse.

The report further says that 33 per cent of Kenyans want the medics to keep off their work stations until their grievances over pay are heard and resolved.

Heed to agreement

Doctors downed their tools more than six weeks ago and have refused to budge from their decision before their 2013 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) is fully implemented.

According to the survey, seen by P Live Kenya, 46 per cent of Coalition for Reform and Democracy (CORD) supporters back the strike. Only 23 per cent of Jubilee supporters back the doctors. A record 75 per cent of Jubilee supporters are opposed to the strike, compared with CORD’s 52 per cent.

In a survey conducted in a sample size of 2,057, a majority of Kenyans, at 58 per cent, want the health sector reverted to the national government, while 32 per cent say it should remain a devolved function. The devolution of health sector came into effect in 2013 after the inauguration of the new devolved system of governance. There has been an outburst of blames across the counties, decrying of delayed disbursement of funds to run the public facilities.

Political hoodwink

On this backdrop, 33 per cent of CORD supporters want health to remain a devolved function. On the other hand, only 30 per cent of Jubilee supporters want health to remain with the county governments.

Under the current arrangement, the function is shared, with the national government running only the Kenyatta National Hospital, Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret and Mathari Hospital. The rest are under the counties.

This comes just a day before the lapse of the ultimatum issued by the Labour and Industrial Court last week extending the execution of the order to detain the doctor’s union officials. Earlier, Lady Justice Hellen Wasilwa of the Labour Relations Court had issued an extension for the execution of the arrest and detention of medic union officials, after doctors called for more time to initiate negotiations.

Eminent sacking

Meanwhile, governors have said they will employ doctors on a three-year renewable contract as opposed to the current permanent work terms. This, they said, will help them engage the doctors on a more sober manner as compared to now when they are permanent and under the national government.

The county bosses have threatened to sack doctors who have been on strike, saying they had run out of patience.