Doctors in Kisii on Wednesday resolved to temporarily end their week-long strike over delayed pay.
Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Union (KMPDU) regional secretary general Aggrey Orwenyo said they decided to prioritise patients.
However, he said they will not hesitate to abandon their duties following any subsequent salary delays.
"Today we only confirm only the November salary is already in our accounts, we thus unanimously resolve that we temporarily suspend the industrial action and go back to work," Orwenyo told the Star by phone Wednesday afternoon.
The medics went on strike last Thursday night over delayed processing of the November and December salaries.
Orwenyo said doctors expect the December pay to reflect in their accounts by January 5.
The Union chief on Wednesday remained defiantly unapologetic saying they would still opt out of the wards if the county government fails to honour the obligation on time.
"The rules of engagement remain the same, nothing has changed." he affirmed.
The SG told the county administration not to wait to be reminded of its obligations through industrial strikes.
"If that is the situation again, we are ready to re-engage them through similar strikes."
The doctors advised Governor Simba Arati to embrace peaceful resolution mechanism of staff disputes rather than waiting until things spill over.
"Doctors are human too, always eager to listen and engage so that we can find amicable solutions to problems afflicting the sector than going confrontational to be heard," Orwenyo said.
KMPDU said they are yet to be invited to any formal meeting with the county leadership to discuss the perennial salary delays and other pertinent issues affecting doctors in Kisii county such as promotions and staff shortage.
