The Employment and Labour Court is now set to facilitate consent negotiations in the Kiambu doctors’ recruitment case, following indications of progress in return-to-work discussions between the parties.
The matter, filed by obstetrician and gynaecologist Dr Gathoni Njeri Muriithi, returned before Justice Hellen Wasilwa, who on October 21 had issued interim orders temporarily halting the recruitment exercise pending an inter partes hearing.
This was after the petitioner raised concerns over the exercise’s constitutional standards on equity, transparency, and fair labour practices.
In her pleadings, she asked the court to issue conservatory orders stopping the county government from proceeding with the disputed recruitment and to compel the County Public Service Board (CPSB) to reopen the process for all qualified applicants.
When the matter came up on Wednesday, Justice Wasilwa noted that during the previous session, there had been an indication that the parties would record a consent.
Through her lawyer, Henry Kurauka, Muriithi told the court that discussions toward resolving the petition were ongoing.
“I have just filed a return-to-work formula that was agreed on October 24. Perhaps we can have another mention date to draft a consent on settling this petition,” he said.
The formula being referred to was the agreement signed on October 24, which brought to an end a five-month strike by doctors in Kiambu County.
The deal, brokered between the County Government of Kiambu, the Council of Governors (CoG), and the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU), laid the groundwork for resolving long-standing disputes over promotions, delayed salaries, and statutory remittances.
The deal was reached after a series of mediation efforts led by the Council of Governors, which helped bridge the gap between the county government and the doctors’ union.
“We have had a total of 18 different meetings to bring this matter to an end. We have signed a return-to-work formula that provides clear timelines on the pending promotions, salary delays, and remittances,” said KMPDU Secretary General Doctor Davji Atellah.
The respondents, the Kiambu County government and the County Public Service Board, did not oppose the proposal and agreed to the suggestion for an adjournment to allow the parties to finalise consent terms.
Justice Wasilwa consequently scheduled the matter for mention on November 27, directing the parties to use the intervening period to conclude their discussions and possibly record a settlement.
The turn toward consent negotiations comes amid efforts to
stabilise Kiambu’s health sector following months of disruption caused by the
doctors’ strike and the contested recruitment process.
