Doctors and state officials held a late-night court-mandated meeting on Thursday, March 21 as ordered by the Labour Court to address the ongoing doctors’ strike that started on March 14.
Initially, the strike primarily focused on the demand for the posting of interns, but it has since evolved to include other grievances.
The main reason for the doctors’ strike is the demand for the posting of medical interns and the clearance of basic salary arrears as per the 2017 collective bargaining agreement.
Scheduled for 4:45 pm at the VIP Pavilion of the Kenyatta International Conference Centre, the meeting was facilitated by Chief of Staff Felix Koskei in compliance with the directives from the Labour Court.
Koskei emphasized the importance of resolving the issues raised by the Kenya Medical Practitioners Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) to break the cycle of perennial disputes in Kenya’s health sector.
“The consultative meeting shall discuss the issues raised by the Kenya Medical Practitioners Pharmacists and Dentists Union with a view of ensuring they are wholly addressed and the long-running cycle of perennial disputes that has plagued Kenya’s health sector is finally broken,” Koskei had stated in the invitation letter.
The court orders, issued on March 15 by Justice Byram Ongaya in response to a suit filed by James Kounah Advocates, mandated the suspension of the strike and the initiation of talks. Justice Ongaya stressed the need for a comprehensive approach to resolving the dispute, involving key stakeholders from various government departments, commissions, unions, and hospitals.
Despite the court’s order to suspend the strike, many doctors are reportedly still abstaining from work. Justice Ongaya reiterated the suspension of the strike to facilitate the negotiation process and seek a sustainable solution to the dispute.
