Reports suggesting that medical workers have resolved their strike with the government have been refuted by the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Union (KMPDU). Dr. Davji Atellah, the Secretary General of KMPDU, clarified in an interview with Citizen Digital on Friday that although they were scheduled for a meeting at State House later in the afternoon, no agreement to end the strike had been finalized as previously stated.
Dr. Atellah emphasized that if they can come to an agreement on outstanding matters, such as the payment for medical interns, then the union would consider calling off the strike.
“From the point we were last time the issues that had to be resolved like doctor internship, employment of more doctors, KNH doctors that are being exploited, postgraduate doctors, these issues have not been resolved,” said Dr Atella.
He went on to state: “We got an invitation from the government for a meeting to come up with a return to work agreement at 2.30 pm. We cannot sign a return-to-work agreement if we do not iron out the issues that are pending. We will only sign once these issues are resolved and as of now nothing has been resolved.”
KMPDU Deputy Secretary General Dr. Dennis Miskellah also rejected an earlier statement made by State House Director of Public Communication, Gerald Bitok, labeling it as “fake news.” Bitok had claimed that the unresolved issues had been addressed, but Dr. Miskellah clarified that this was not the case.
On Thursday, the High Court issued a directive for the government and the striking doctors to sign a return-to-work agreement, to be endorsed by the court on Monday, May 6, 2024. However, the Employment and Labour Relations Court declined the government’s request to compel the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists, and Dentists Union (KMPDU) to immediately halt the ongoing strike before signing the agreement.
Justice Byram Ongaya instructed both parties to temporarily set aside the matter concerning the remuneration of intern doctors, noting that it is already being addressed by a court in Eldoret.
