A joint parliamentary committee has urged striking medical workers to return to their duties as pertinent issues are being addressed by their respective employers.
Chair of the National Assembly Departmental Committee on Health, Robert Pukose, and his Senate counterpart, Jackson Mandago, stressed that the national and county governments have demonstrated goodwill in resolving grievances raised by the doctors.
The two leaders noted that only two out of the 19 issues raised by the unions remain unresolved.
Pukose stressed the urgency of reinstating medical personnel to their posts as the current weather conditions pose health risks.
“The floods experienced across the country may lead to outbreak of diseases. We, therefore, need all medical personnel back at their respective stations immediately, as both the National Government and the counties are actively engaged in resolving outstanding issues that prompted the nationwide strike,” Pukose said.
Mandago echoed Pukose’s sentiments and urged union leaders to negotiate in good faith and adhere to agreements once reached.
He called for expediency in resolving the disputes, especially amidst the current national crisis and the potential for disease outbreaks.
“Devolution was to ensure equitable development opportunities. If only 11 counties have issues should we have a national strike? We want to appeal to the medical personnel to call of the strike and resume work immediately,” he said.
The parliamentary leaders expressed the sentiments during a meeting on Thursday with Cabinet Secretaries, the Public Service Commission (PSC), the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC), as well as representatives from various unions.
Doctors, represented by the Kenya Medical Practitioners Pharmacists Dentists Union (KMPDU), have been on strike for over 50 days, advocating for the implementation of a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) signed in 2017.
The Kenya Medical Laboratory Technologist Union (KMLTU) and the Kenya Union Of Clinical Officers (KUCO) also joined the strike.
Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha and her Labour counterpart Florence Bore acknowledged that the primary outstanding issues revolve around the remuneration of medical Interns and registrars.
“We appeal to the Medical staff unions not to regress on resolved matters. Out of the 19 issues in dispute, only two remain pending, which concern medical interns and registrars, and these will be resolved,” CS Nakhumicha said.
Bore implored striking medical staff to return to work while negotiations continue to ensure a favourable return-to-work formula for all parties involved.
