Kenyan Doctors' Strike Over as Government and KMPDU Reach an Agreement

The prolonged nationwide doctors' strike in Kenya has finally come to an end after 56 days of gridlock.

The Kenya Medical Practitioners Pharmacists Dentists Union (KMPDU) has signed a return-to-work formula agreement with the Ministry of Health signaling a resolution to the impasse that had paralyzed service provision across all public health facilities. The strike commenced on March 14 as doctors demanded the full implementation of their Collective Bargaining Agreement signed in 2017. Among the 19 issues raised, the primary contention revolved around the posting of medical interns on a monthly salary of Sh206,000 (approximately $1,600). Initially defiant, the KMPDU had rejected the government's offer of a Sh70,000 (approximately $550) monthly stipend, insisting on resolving the contentious intern posting issue before entertaining any deal.

The standoff intensified when the government tabled a fresh Ksh6.1 billion (approximately $48 million) offer to address the doctors' demands, but the striking medics remained steadfast in their "no deal" stance until the intern posting matter was resolved. The impasse prompted the government to seek court intervention, resulting in orders suspending the strike on March 13, which the KMPDU initially vowed to defy, accusing the government of disobeying previous orders. However, in a recent development, the KMPDU Chairman Abi Mwachi announced the union's decision to comply with the latest court orders, citing the urgency of the situation and the need for leadership.

The court had mandated both parties to merge their respective return-to-work formulas into a converged document within 48 hours. Mwachi stated, "Our KMPDU national advisory council held a meeting to plan on how to comply with the orders. It is incumbent upon both teams to rise to the occasion and show leadership, especially at such a time where the stakes are rising with every passing day. The judge ordered that we merge the two solitary RTWFs into a converged document within 48 hours. We are ready to comply as the KMPDU."

The Ministry of Health has welcomed the KMPDU's decision, issuing a statement that acknowledges the signing of the return-to-work formula agreement effectively ending the nationwide doctors' strike. With the resolution of this protracted dispute, the focus now shifts to the implementation of the agreed-upon terms, ensuring the restoration of essential medical services and addressing the underlying issues that precipitated the strike.