In a bid to end the prolonged deadlock between the government and striking doctors, a joint Parliamentary sitting on Health on Friday, April 26, summoned top officials, including Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha, Treasury CS Njuguna Ndungu, and Labour CS Florence Bore.
The summons, orchestrated by the Senate Standing Committee on Health and the Departmental Committee on Health of the National Assembly, aims to address the escalating crisis that has currently gripped the nation's healthcare system for 45 days.
Council of Governors Chairperson Anne Waiguru and CoG Health Committee Chairperson Muthomi Njuki have also been called upon to appear before the committee on Thursday, May 2.
Additionally, the Chairpersons of the Public Service Commission (PSC) and Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC), Ambassador Anthony Mwaniki Muchiri and Lyn Mengich, are expected to attend the session.
Expressing disappointment over the government's failure to find a solution, Uasin Gishu Senator Jackson Mandago, who chairs the committee, emphasised the urgency of the matter during a meeting with medical unions who showed up to update the Parliamentarians.
Mandago criticised the no-show of governors and other players tasked with ending the impasse to update the legislators, stating, "I don’t think they could be any other meeting that was so crucial than the one to solve the crisis of health we have in the country."
Nyeri Town MP, Duncan Mathenge echoed similar sentiments, stating, "It's not just about the current stalemate, it's also about us as a nation avoiding finding ourselves in this quagmire again in the future."
Former Uasin Gishu Governor Mandago, a vocal critic of reverting the health services to the national government, hinted at a possible shift back to national government control. "It will be easier for us to look for one Health Cabinet Secretary than look for 47 Governors," he remarked, indicating growing frustration with the current standoff.
MP Mathenge joined in asserting, "People who are fearing responsibility in ensuring Kenyans receive the services they deserve from their government must take them must take their jobs seriously." Mandago added, "Be serious about the management of health."
The dispute primarily centres around 19 issues raised by the doctors union, Kenya Medical Practitioners Pharmacists Dentists Union (KMPDU).
According to the government, the 'Whole of Nation Approach' order by the Labour Court has resolved 18 out of 19 issues, with the exception of concerns regarding medical interns. Head of Public Service Felix Koskei on Wednesday, "The union backtracked on the return-to-work formula that we had mutually settled on after a series of six marathon meetings. Their new demand on medical interns is an all-or-nothing out-of-court settlement."
In response, Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) Secretary General Dr. Davji Atellah announced plans for further protests on Tuesday, April 30, to press the Ministry of Health for action. The march aims to address what the union perceives as the Ministry's disregard for doctors' concerns.
Rejecting the government's offer to meet most demands, Dr Atellah insisted on the inclusion of the contentious Ksh206,000 salary for medical interns.
Meanwhile, the Federation of Women Lawyers in Kenya (FIDA) threatened legal action against those responsible for the prolonged strike.
FIDA Chairperson Christine Kungu urged the government to prioritize resolving the strike, emphasising the right to healthcare enshrined in the Constitution. "In the event that the strike is not resolved and the provision of healthcare services not normalized, FIDA Kenya shall take legal action," Kungu asserted.
