Senator Cherargei Proposes Standardised Pay For Interns: "We Got Mandazi And Githeri As Pay"

• Kenya Medical Practitioners Pharmacy and Dentist (KMPDU) had demanded that medical interns be paid KSh 206,000 monthly for their services per the 2017 CBA
• In line with this, Nandi senator Samson Cherargei pitched a proposal that will ensure standardised payment for interns across all professions
• His statement caused online outrage as some netizens agreed with him and others disagreed, terming it untenable

Nandi senator Samson Cherargei has proposed the introduction of a standardised monthly pay for interns across all professions in the country.

What did Samson Cherargei propose for interns?

Speaking before a Senate committee on Wednesday, May 8, Cherargei said he was aware of the ongoing discussion as to whether interns in other professions are as qualified as intern doctors.

He argued that some individuals get no pay as interns, and the lucky ones are given breakfast or lunch as payment for their services.

"Some of us who worked at law firms used to be given only lunch of githeri and mandazi, and yet we were doing matters worth billions of shillings," he argued.

He added that having standardised pay for interns across all professions would solve issues pertaining to interns' payments in the future.

He made the argument with reference to KMPDU's demand that doctor interns should be paid KSh 206,000.

How did netizens react?

Cherargei's proposal sparked reactions from netizens, with some completely supporting Cherargei's proposal.

Samwel Wekesa:

"Cherargei has a point."

Isaac Wachira:

"Fair enough. No way some interns will be pocketing 300k while others earn 17k, while those getting 17k work for more hours."

Kennedy Muiruri:

"I support PSC interns do not serve a lesser God! All interns should have same pay across the various professions coz no intern is special from the other their professions notwithstanding!"

Msanifu:

"My proposal is having standardized salary for all public servants and state officers across all profesions."

Kamusa Benedict:

"Do they have the same standards in training?"

How much did KMPDU want for interns?

Kenya Medical Practitioners Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) wanted intern doctors to be KSh 206k.

However, the doctors union failed to agree with the government on the remuneration of medical interns.

On Wednesday, May 8, KMPDU and the government signed the return-to-work formula, marking the conclusion of the doctors' strike.

Despite this agreement, KMPDU secretary general Davji Atellah revealed that the parties had not reached a consensus on the primary contentious matter, namely the assignment of medical interns.

What else you need to know about medical interns

• Their union wanted, among other things, the reinstatement of the KSh 206,000 monthly pay for interns per the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) signed by the parties in 2017.
• Public Service Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria vowed the government would not pay intern doctors KSh 206,000.
• President William Ruto asked KMPDU to accept the offer of KSh 70,000 for the 1,500 interns, saying the government could afford that.

Proofreading by Otukho Jackson, a multimedia journalist and copy editor at TUKO.co.ke

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