Negotiations between the Kenya Medical Practitioners Pharmacists Dentists Union (KMPDU) and the Health Ministry failed to kick off on Wednesday, March 27, after Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha declined to participate in discussions, prolonging the ongoing deadlock.
Expressing dismay over the Ministry’s reluctance to engage, KMPDU voiced frustration on social media, suggesting that the absence of the Susan Nakhumicha-led team exemplified the government’s disregard for citizens’ concerns.
The talks aimed to resolve the standoff and end the 14-day doctors’ strike. Despite KMPDU’s willingness to negotiate, the government’s withdrawal from the table was criticized as a failure to fulfill its obligations to the public.
“The ongoing doctors’ strike underscores the government’s neglect of public health. It’s not merely doctors on strike; it’s a failure of governance,” asserted KMPDU.
Council of Governors chairperson Anne Waiguru issued a warning to doctors, urging them to return to work or face disciplinary measures from their respective county governments. Waiguru emphasized compliance with court orders issued on March 13, 2024, and March 15, 2024, urging doctors to resume duties.
Additionally, Waiguru called for KMPDU to negotiate a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) directly with county governments, stressing the need for cooperation and resolution at the local level.
Responding to the Council of Governors’ directive, KMPDU Secretary General Davji Atellah reiterated the doctors’ resolve, rejecting any coercion to end the strike prematurely.
