Health Cabinet Secretary Cleopa Mailu has said the government will not implement the doctors' demand in the Collective Bargaining Agreement.
According to Mailu, the 300% salary increase being demanded by the doctors cannot be met since all civil servants in the country are being paid through a certain procedure overseen by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC).
While speaking on the phone to Radio Maisha on Monday, Mailu further said for the doctors to enjoy their demands, they would have to be categorised outside the civil servants' category of the country since all public servants are paid in accordance with a laid down procedure.
"The Health ministry will not show any laxity in terms of the doctors' salary demand as contained in their CBA. All civil servants are paid in accordance to what has been laid down by the SRC, Public Service Commission, and the Finance ministry. This is because all these bodies have already decided on the amount civil servants should receive as their salary," said Mailu.
The minister further called on doctors to accept the 40% salary increase awarded to then after a careful deliberation with the doctors' representatives, Kenya Medical Practitioners Pharmacists and Dentists Union.
"Let doctors accept the 40% salary increase awarded to them by the government. This is because the 300% is out of range," added Mailu.