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Government agrees to clear doctors' salary arrears within two years

Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha and Head of Public Service Felix Koskei during a meeting with President William Ruto and doctors' union officials at the State House in Nairobi on May 11, 2024. (Photo: PCS)

By Maureen Kinyanjui | Thursday, June 6, 2024

President William Ruto had instructed that the outstanding arrears be cleared in two installments, with the first tranche scheduled for July 1, 2024.

The government has pledged to settle doctors' salary arrears dating back to 2017 over the next two years, through a conditional grant of Sh3.5 billion.

According to a circular issued by the Head of Public Service, Felix Koskei, President William Ruto had instructed that the outstanding arrears be cleared in two installments, with the first tranche scheduled for July 1, 2024.

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"The settlement of the basic salary arrears by doctors employed by the county governments be concluded within two years, with effect from July 1, 2024," reads the circular dated May 29.

It was addressed to Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha, her counterpart Njuguna Ndung'u from the National Treasury, and copied to the Council of Governors chairperson Anne Waiguru.

In the circular, the Chief of Staff highlighted that the Ministry of Health, jointly with the National Treasury and Economic Planning facilitate the settlement of the basic salary arrears by allocating Sh1.75 billion annually starting July 1, 2024, as a conditional grant to county governments.

The deal was reached following a meeting between the doctors union and the President at State House on May 14, ending a 56-day strike that paralysed health services.

Going further, the circular highlights that the Head of State had considered the proposals by the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists, and Dentists Union and reviewed an earlier return to work formula signed on May 8, 2024.

"It is notified that the President has considered the proposal as codified in the return to work formula and in recognition of the unique role of medical personnel as vanguards of the nation's health system," reads the circular in part.

As a result, Koskei directed the National Treasury and Economic Planning Cabinet Secretary "to take appropriate action" as directed by the President.

The initial deal signed between the Ministry of Health and the doctors had provided that the arrears accrued to doctors be paid in a period of five years backdated to 2017.

On May 6, 2024, the government and doctors' union officials signed a return-to-work formula effectively ending a 56-day nationwide strike.

The inking of the deal came at the end of the 48-hour deadline the Employment and Labour Relations Court had given the government and striking doctors to finalise a return-to-work formula, failure to which the court would have stepped in to hear and determine the matter for them.