- 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.
Image: FILE
Council of Governors chairperson Anne Wiguru has called on the striking doctors to resume duty with immediate effect.
Waiguru on Tuesday said failure to do so will 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," she added.
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.
She said the new terms of payment have been stipulated by the current economic times.
"This is a new term of contracts, we need to communicate clearly that there is no intern who is in place who was earning 200,000 and then it was reduced," Waiguru said.
"The counties on our side we are ready to receive the interns who are willing to come and complete their training so that they can be certified," she noted.
The doctors have now been on strike for 40 days since March 14, 2024, paralysing service provision across all public health facilities.
On Monday, Head of Public Service Felix Koskei said the government side had agreed to postpone the signing of draft return-to-work formula to Tuesday.
This was after the wait for doctors union officials to arrive went into the night.