Davji Atellah Demands Better Pay, Safe Conditions for Health Workers on Labour Day: "They're Rights"
- KMPDU Secretary General Davji Atellah honoured healthcare workers on Labour Day, applauding their courage, resilience, and dedication to saving lives
- Atellah called for fair pay, decent working conditions, and respect, asserting that these are not privileges but fundamental rights
- The union renewed its commitment to defending health workers’ rights in delivering quality healthcare and sustaining a healthy economy
TUKO.co.ke journalist Ivan Mboto has over three years of experience reporting on politics and current affairs in Kenya
Kenya Medical Practitioners Pharmacists Dentists Union (KMPDU) Secretary General Davji Atellah marked Labour Day with a passionate tribute to healthcare workers across the country.
Source: UGC
Atellah recognised the medics' relentless service and reignited the call for fairness in the health sector.
Through a post shared on his social media platforms, Atellah praised the resilience and commitment of doctors and healthcare professionals who, in his words, have stood firm on the frontlines saving lives, and advocating for better systems
“Today, we honour the dedication, resilience, and sacrifice of every healthcare worker across Kenya,” he wrote. “Labour Day is not just a celebration, it is a reminder. A reminder that decent work, fair pay, safe working conditions, and respect are not privileges; they are rights.”
Atellah reaffirmed KMPDU’s mission to secure a healthcare system that values its workforce while delivering accessible, high-quality care to all Kenyans.
He addressed the union’s members directly, acknowledging their role in shaping its agenda.
“To our members, your courage fuels our collective strength. Your voices shape our union’s mission. Today, we renew our commitment to defending your rights and securing the future of healthcare in Kenya,” he said.
He further emphasised that healthcare must be recognised as a universal right and not a luxury reserved for the few.
“Healthcare is a human right, not a privilege,” Atellah stated. “Every person deserves compassion, access, and dignity on their journey to wellness. There can be no true wellness without a dignified and dedicated health workforce. Doctors and all healthcare workers remain the cornerstone of a healthy economy.”
Atellah further called on both leaders and citizens to value and invest in the people who hold Kenya’s health system together, its doctors, nurses, and support staff.
Source: UGC
Gachagua dismisses Labour Day festivities citing workers’ struggles
In a related story covered by TUKO.co.ke, former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua downplayed the importance of Labour Day celebrations, arguing that Kenyan workers had little to celebrate amid worsening economic conditions.
In a message shared on social media, Gachagua said that payslips had been severely eroded and the cost of living had become unbearable, further burdening ordinary citizens.
He also accused the state of misusing taxpayers’ money on foreign trips and political mobilisation efforts instead of prioritising the public good.
Gachagua claimed that workers are facing deep pain, frustration, and uncertainty, and maintained that extending Labour Day wishes under such circumstances only added to their suffering.
Despite the bleak outlook, the former Mathira MP urged workers to remain hopeful, insisting that their struggles were temporary and his opposition allies were committed to finding solutions to the current economic crisis.
Proofreading by Mercy Nyambura, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
