The Head of Public Service says the government cannot afford to pay medical interns Ksh.206,000 monthly.
Felix Koskei said that the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists, and Dentists Union (KMPDU) should adhere to the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) parameters.
KMPDU wants medical interns paid Ksh.206,000 under the 2017 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), whereas the government wants to pay a maximum of Ksh.70,000 by SRC recommendations.
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However, Koskei claims the government would not pay according to the physicians' expectations.
"The government has no money, there is no money to pay Ksh.206,000, let them take the Ksh.70,000 that is on offer," Koskei remarked.
“The government has no money, there is no money to pay Ksh.206,000, let them take the Ksh.70,000 that is on offer,” said Koskei.
“We are running under a limited budget, the economic situation is dire, the entire workforce may not get an increment, the interns until they finish 1 year…get the licence.”
This comes as the countrywide physicians' strike entered its second month on Friday, with neither the KMPDU nor the government prepared to compromise on their demands.
Medics have ignored orders from the national and county governments to return to work or face disciplinary action, and some unions predict that the problem will worsen.
So far, talks have failed to break the deadlock. The 2017 CBA and the posting of medical interns are the main points of disagreement, among other concerns.
The question of salary is central to the controversy over medical intern postings.
In a message addressed to newsrooms on Friday, Labour Cabinet Secretary Florence Bore asked physicians to return to work and register their concerns using the dispute resolution processes provided in the Labour Relations Act of 2007.
Despite the government's threats to fire them, physicians remained determined.
