Health crisis: Night meeting to end doctors' strike fails to unlock impasse

A meeting organised by the Kenyan Government on Monday evening in an attempt to have medics resume work failed after the doctors' representatives declined to attend.

The meeting called by Head of Public Service Felix Koskei was one of the many the government has been holding to have doctors resume work without honouring the Common Bargaining Agreement which it signed with the medics.

The medics later announced that the decision to end their strike lies with their union's National Advisory Council and not any of the individual officials.

The doctors' absence from the meeting aimed at ending the 41-day-old strike underlines the deepening gulf between the health professionals and the authorities in resolving the health crisis.

A return-to-work formula drawn up by representatives of both sides is now a subject of discussion by the Kenya Medical Practitioners Pharmacists Dentists Union (KMPDU).

It is understood a vote will be taken this evening on whether or not to call off or suspend the strike.

"All the issues will be decided by our National Advisory Council, which has to vote and give us the green light to call off the strike. Of the 36 members, we need 75 per cent to vote in favour of returning to work. If they agree, we will call off the strike. If they reject it, then we will have to come up with another formula," said a statement from the union.

From the set-up at Kenyatta International Convention Centre, the meeting venue, it seemed clear to the government that the doctors would sign a pact to call off the strike.

Head of Public Service Felix Koskei speaks to members of the Whole Nation Approach team after chairing an inter-governmental consultative meeting with the Council of Governors on the proposed framework to unlock the impasse in labour relations within the health sector at the KICC on April 22, 2024. (Photo: X/Felix Koskei)

"Optimistic"

In response to the doctors' absence, Koskei, the chairman of the Whole Nation Approach team said they were optimistic that everything would be resolved and doctors resume duty.

He said they understood that the doctors needed to consult and were giving them time to complete their discussions.

"We have had meetings and our negotiations have already reached 96 per cent of the desired result. Let's give them time to finish, then we can meet and end the stalemate," said Koskei.

"We have come a long way with the discussion and we have agreed on all the issues, the county issues have been 100 per cent resolved, and the national government issues have all been resolved except one, the internship issues."

The Chairperson of the Council of Governors Anne Waiguru announced that all matters the union wanted addressed exhaustively have been discussed.

"We have agreed that once they are done, we will meet for the final signing and end of the strike," she said.

Governors and State officials who had been waiting for the doctors for four hours from 2 pm said it was unfortunate that the doctors had deliberately declined invitations sent to them.

However, the doctors accused the State of grossly exaggerating what happened at the meeting.

Before the strike, a letter was sent to Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha requesting the posting of the junior doctors, but this was reportedly never acted upon.