Veterinary association asks MPs to end 19 year salary stalemate

The Kenya Veterinary Association (KVA) has urged the National Assembly Departmental Committee on Labour to resolve a 19-year pay dispute that has left veterinary doctors earning less than medical professionals. Dr. Kelvin Osore, KVA President, presented the matter to the Committee, highlighting the challenges faced by veterinary doctors and interns in uncontrolled field environments, where they are exposed to various diseases and animal trauma.

Despite their significant contribution to public health, the doctors have been denied a salary increase for 19 years. A 2007 job evaluation by the Ministry of Public Service recommended harmonisation of their salaries with medical doctors, and the National Treasury allocated Ksh. 449 million annually in 2017. However, the Salaries and Remuneration Commission declined to implement the proposal.

The KVA is seeking a monthly Health Risk Allowance of Ksh. 50,000, non-practice allowance, extraneous allowance, call allowance, uniform allowance, and Health Workers Service Allowance for veterinary doctors, along with a harmonisation of their stipend to match that of medical doctors. The Committee questioned the prevalence of quack veterinarians, fake animal feeds, and substandard veterinary medicines.

The Committee, chaired by Ken Chonga, promised to investigate the reasons behind the non-implementation of previous proposals and urged the veterinary doctors to provide documentary evidence supporting their 2007 harmonisation proposal.