- This comes barely a day after the side of the government expressed optimism that the deal ending the strike would be signed on Tuesday.
- The team led by the Head of Public Service had acknowledged on Monday evening that all the issues the doctors had raised had been agreed upon, except one, the posting of interns.
Image: FILE
Patients might have to continue suffering after doctors rejected the offer given to them by the government.
In the latest development, the doctors' union said it will not compromise until the elephant in the room - posting of interns - is fully addressed.
This comes barely a day after the side of the government expressed optimism that the deal ending the strike would be signed on Tuesday.
The team led by the Head of Public Service had acknowledged on Monday evening that all the issues the doctors had raised had been agreed upon, except one, the posting of interns.
The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union SG Davji Atellah said they will not abandon the interns, terming them vulnerable.
"Dear government, the doctors are saying that since you have publicly said that you conceded to 18 of our 19 demands (except internship), kindly take back the 18 and give us the 1," Atellah said.
"As a community, we are not used to abandoning the most vulnerable, and to us, interns are currently very vulnerable."
The doctors have now been on strike for 41 days since March 14, 2024, paralysing service provision across all public health facilities.
Speaking after the Whole of the Nation approach meeting, Health CS Susan Nakhumicha said the ministry had received Sh6.1 billion to settle issues raised by the striking doctors.
Nakhumicha further noted that the committee had instructed their counsel to file a status report in court after the doctors failed to call off their strike.
"As a government through the ministry we have received 6.1B for settlement of the issues raised by the doctors," Nakhumicha said.
"Follow-up to the doctor’s refusal to call off the strike, we have instructed our counsel to immediately move to court and file the status report as to what we had agreed to and initiated on as a return to work formula," she said.
She said the council had equally been directed to appeal to the court to review the orders that had been issued initially to allow the government to take necessary action to ensure that Kenyans continue to enjoy healthcare services.
Council of Governors chairperson Anne Wiguru called on the striking doctors to resume duty with immediate effect.
Waiguru said failure to do so would leave the counties with no option but to take necessary action against striking doctors.
Waiguru said issues which had been raised by the doctors had since been agreed upon, hence no need for the strike to go on.
This, she said, was after a series of meetings that have been taking place between the government and the union.
"We have been sitting here long days and in various other forums and we have gone the whole mile. On the counties' side, we have given into everything and still, we are at this place for no good reason," Waiguru said.
"For that, every county will take the necessary action as they deem fit and it will not be specific to a county but I am sure you will be seeing the necessary action as we go forward."
Waiguru said each county has an HR policy and is independent, adding that they had agreed unanimously to take whatever necessary action is required to stop the suffering of Kenyans.
The CoG chair further noted that the counties are ready to receive the medical interns who are willing to report and begin their training.
Elaborating on the matter of stipends, Waiguru said this was a new contract and the new rates would not affect those who were earning more than that.