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Doctors' strike: Talks between government and KMPDU fail again

Doctors and medical practitioners under the Kenya Medical Practitioners Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) participate in a demonstration to demand payment of their salary arrears and the immediate hiring of trainee doctors, among other grievances, in Nairobi, April 9, 2024. (Reuters)

By Hanifa Adan | 03 May 2024

Prior discussions had reportedly resolved 17 out of 19 contentious issues, and this meeting aimed to find consensus on the remaining two.

Doctors walked out of a meeting at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) on Friday evening, where they were expected to sign a return-to-work formula with Felix Koskei, the Head of Public Service and Chief of Staff.

The walkout happened after the doctors found that the document presented for signing remained unchanged on critical issues.

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Prior discussions had reportedly resolved 17 out of 19 contentious issues, and this meeting aimed to find consensus on the remaining two. The lack of amendments led to the breakdown of talks.

The doctors' union had rejected the government's offer which leaves out the crucial matter of internship postings for medical graduates.

Koskei was accompanied by Health CS Susan Nakhumicha, Labour CS Florence Bore, Whip of Council of governors Stephen Sang and CoG's Health Committee Chairperson Muthomi Njuki.

On Thursday, the High Court instructed the government and the striking members of the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) to finalise and sign a return-to-work agreement by Monday, May 6, 2024.

The directive came from the Employment and Labour Relations Court, which also chose not to force KMPDU to end the ongoing strike before the agreement is signed, despite government requests.

Additionally, Justice Byram Ongaya asked both parties to exclude discussions on intern doctors' salaries from their negotiations, noting that this issue is being addressed in a separate case in an Eldoret court.

The KMPDU has dismissed reports claiming that medical workers have reached an agreement with the government to end the ongoing strike that has lasted for over 50 days.

KMPDU Secretary General Dr Devji Attellah noted that should they reach a consensus on the pending issues including the payment for medical interns then the union would call off the industrial action.

"From the point we were last time, the issues that had to be resolved like doctor internship, employment of more doctors, KNH doctors that are being exploited, postgraduate doctors, these issues have not been resolved," Dr Atella told Citizen TV on Friday.

We cannot sign a return-to-work agreement if we do not iron out the issues that are pending. We will only sign once these issues are resolved and as of now, nothing has been resolved," he added.