The Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Union (KMPDU) has addressed reports claiming that the union has resolved pending issues with the government which will see an end to the nationwide strike.
KMPDU Secretary General Davji Atellah in a response to The Kenya Times on Friday, March 3, 2024, dismissed the claims noting that the union has not ironed out pending issues with the government.
Davji dismissed the claims following reports that the National and County governments are set to sign a return-to-work formula with medical workers following the resolution of pending issues.
The reports also claimed that following the doctors’ union and the government had ironed out issues and thereby resolved to end the strike that has lasted for over 50 days now.
State House Director of Public Communication Gerald Bitok had announced the same while alluding to a meeting between KMPDU and the government.
Also Read: Kenyan Doctors’ Strike
“Relief for Kenyans as National and County Governments sign a return-to-work formula with KMPDU today at 2:30PM. Follows resolution of the outstanding issues between the government and the Medical Practitioners,” said Bitok.
KMPDU Declares Stance
However, KMPDU officials have since labelled the news “fake”.
Dr Davji while also speaking to Citizen TV said the medical workers were due for a meeting at State House later in the afternoon.
He, however, maintained that no return-to-work agreement had been reached as earlier claimed in the reports.
Davji noted that should the Union reach a consensus on the pending issues which includes the payment for medical interns, they will proceed and call off the industrial action.
“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,” Atella told Citizen TV.
Also Read: New Twist as Doctors Counter Nakhumicha and Waiguru Over strike
While commenting about latest engangements with the government, he noted that the union got an invitation for a meeting to come up with a return-to-work agreement at 2.30 pm.
He however insisted that the Union would not be signing a return-to-work agreement if the pending issues are not ironed out the issues.
“We will only sign once these issues are resolved and as of now nothing has been resolved, “he said.
Ruto urges doctors to end strike
President William Ruto while speaking during the 59th Labour Day celebrations called on doctors to end their strike.
The Head of State urged the medical workers to end their strike as the government works towards meeting all their demands at an unspecified time in the future.
“We have tabled what the government is ready to do; 17 out of the 19 demands, the rest is not possible because of financial constraints,” said Ruto.
Doctors have been on strike for 50 days, seeking the implementation of a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) signed in 2017.
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