•Atwoli said Cotu is committed to ensuring the contentious issues that have led to the strike are ironed out and doctors go back to work
•Atwoli was speaking on Saturday during a Shops stewards meeting where he gave a briefing on the preparations ahead of Labour Day celebrations next month
Image: FILE
Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU-K) Secretary General Francis Atwoli has dismissed reports that he has remained silent on the doctors' strike.
Atwoli said Cotu is committed to ensuring the contentious issues that have led to the strike are ironed out and doctors go back to work.
"Today I was late because of the issue of the doctors strike, people are saying that I am not talking. We are consulting, I have been in touch with the minister this morning and I want to be in touch with the union," Atwoli said.
He was speaking on Saturday during a Shops stewards meeting where he gave a briefing on the preparations ahead of Labour Day celebrations next month.
As the spokesperson of Kenyan workers, Atwoli stated that he has been engaging with the government and intends to meet with the doctors' union to facilitate a Return to Work Formula.
However, he emphasized that any union affiliated with Cotu maintains independence and autonomy. Therefore, Cotu cannot take a stance on behalf of either the doctors' union or the government.
"We can neither decide for the union nor the government, that is why there is tripartism arrangement but we can narrow the gap on issues and come up with a return to work formula for doctors to go back to work," Atwoli said.
"That is what I am working on as Cotu SG and as the spokesperson of workers in this country," he added.
Atwoli said he was the first person to issue a statement and condemn the attack on Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union SG Davji Atellah late February.
Atellah was hit by a teargas canister as he was leading protests in Nairobi, making him to be hospitalised.
This comes even as the doctors' strike entered its twenty-third day.
The doctors downed their tools on March 14, and have maintained they will not call off the strike until all their demands are met by the government.
Several attempts at conciliatory meetings have not succeeded in resolving the deadlock, as the union remains firm in its position.
A key demand revolves around the placement of medical interns, with the union advising them against collecting their letters despite directives from the government.
KMPDU chairperson Abi Mwachi said they were not ready to take the government offer, adding that the doctors in 2017 ended their strike based on promises that have never been met.
The Employment and Labour Relations Court stopped the strike on March 13 and ordered mediation.
But doctors have repeatedly rubbished the court orders.