•FIDA called on the government to give priority to resolving the strike which has interrupted delivery of healthcare services across the country.
•FIDA has further called on the government to address the underlying issues driving the strike such as the contentious issues surrounding the CBA.
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The Federation of Women Lawyers in Kenya (FIDA) has threatened to take legal action against duty bearers over an unending doctors' strike.
FIDA in a statement on Wednesday called on the government to give priority to resolving the strike which has interrupted delivery of healthcare services across the country.
FIDA also wants the State to address the underlying issues driving the strike such as the contentious issues surrounding the CBA.
"In the event that the strike is not resolved and provision of healthcare services normalised with immediate effect, FIDA Kenya shall take legal action against any duty bearer found culpable," FIDA chairperson Christine Kungu said.
According to the federation, the right to the highest attainable standard of health is a fundamental right guaranteed by the Constitution.
Kungu said the limitation of this right jeopardises individual well-being and undermines the overall public health system.
She further noted that limited access to the right to health exacerbates existing disparities in accessing healthcare since it disproportionately affects those who are already disadvantaged.
Kungu instead urged all parties involved to act in good faith to find an amicable solution to the impasse.
She said the strike continues to endanger the lives of Kenyans and poses a grave risk to marginalised and vulnerable groups including women and girls.
"This disruption has disproportionate effects on women and girls who continue to bear the brunt as primary caregivers," Kungu said.
"The strike continues to pose a risk to many women seeking maternal services, evidenced by reports of a surge of expectant mothers turned away or waiting for delivery in public hospitals left unattended."
This comes even as the certainty of when the strike is likely to be called off remains unknown.
Doctors on Tuesday rejected the government offer extended to them, saying they were not ready to compromise until the issue of posting medical interns is addressed.
This was despite the government saying that Sh6.1 billion had been released to address the issues raised by the doctors.
The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union SG Davji Atellah said they will not abandon the interns, terming them vulnerable.
"As a community, we are not used to abandoning the most vulnerable, and to us, interns are currently very vulnerable," Atellah said.
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 Sh6.1bn for settlement of the issues raised by the doctors," Nakhumicha said.