‪Doctors Strike Called Off After KMPDU Strike A Deal With The Govt‬

KMPDU finally signs agreement ending nationwide doctors’ strike that has lasted for 56 days.

The highly anticipated deal was signed on Wednesday a few minutes past 4pm. It comes after the Employment and Labour Relations Court had ordered both the doctors’ union and the government to come up with a return-to-work formula by Wednesday.

“I want to thank the able leadership of KMPDU who believe that justice must be done and must be done now. The strike that began on the 13th of March, 2024 has been called off.” Davji Atella, KMPDU’s Sec Gen said during the deal signing.

The Ministry of Health and KMPDU officials have been engaging on crafting the formula, with the latest meeting taking place last evening, as reported by Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha.

The strike’s sticking points included the intern doctors’ pay and working conditions, as well as the implementation of a previously agreed-upon collective bargaining agreement.

During the signing, Atellah revealed that the matter concerning interns had not been definitively resolved.

As a result, there is a 60-day period during which the posting of medical interns will be suspended until a binding agreement is reached.

Atellah attributed the absence of agreement on the issue to an ongoing court case in Eldoret, which is pending judgment.

“As this matter in court is ongoing, we will also be having conversations but one thing we must assure everybody is that the rights of workers as enshrined in a collective bargaining agreement that is signed we will always endeavor to protect that,” he said.

Felix Koskei, the Head of Public Service, commended the doctors for their decision to return to work, as witnessed during the signing ceremony.