Kenyan Doctors Call Off Nationwide Strike After Deal with Government

Kenyan doctors have called off their nationwide strike after reaching an agreement with the government.

The return to work formula was agreed following successful talks between officials from the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists, and Dentists Union (KMPDU) and those from the Health and Labor ministries.

KMPDU acting secretary-general Dr. Chibanzi Mwachonda announced the end of the four-day industrial action during a press briefing on Thursday.

He was flanked by Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe and his Labor counterpart Simon Chelugui.

“I would like to declare that the strike by KMPDU has now been called off. We shall continue further engagement to ensure that all other matters that we had raised in the strike notice are resolved,” said Mwachonda.

He pointed out that the government agreed to fast track funding for the doctors and provide all members with adequate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

In addition, no doctor who participated in the go-slow will be victimized while the Labor ministry promised to mediate disputes between doctors and a few county governments.

Mwachonda noted that the government has addressed most of their grievances and the remaining are being worked on.

“We are on the festive season and holidays. Kenyan doctors will provide services for you in health facilities and we will continue to engage and we do hope that come January we shall have these discussions to ensure that during this period of the pandemic, all our doctors will be assured of their safety,” he added.

Speaking during the media briefing, CS Kagwe, said: "This is a new way of doing things, coming to the table and clearing issues. It is a win-win situation; nobody loses in this kind of discussions. I'm happy that we have come to this resolution at a critical time, we were hoping to give this gift to Kenyans over Christmas and we have managed to do so."