The Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Union (KMPDU) has reached an agreement with the Nairobi County government that brings a 5-week doctors' strike in the county to a close.
In a statement on Tuesday, April 8, KMPDU confirmed that the signing of the deal, which they say gave a way forward for their demands, was led by the KMPDU Secretary General, Davji Atellah, and the Nairobi County Governor, Johnson Sakaja.
"After 39 days of solidarity, the Nairobi County Doctors’ Strike is suspended. We have secured a way forward for all 9 demands," it stated.
"Thanks to Governor Hon. Sakaja and the Nairobi County Management Team for your support in securing these victories," it added.
Among the demands addressed by the deal are the reinstatement of dismissed county doctors, the issuance of 369 Permanent and Pensionable (PnP) letters by May 1, 2025, clearing Mama Lucy hospital arrears next month, giving gratuity to defunct Nairobi doctors by July, and a 4 per cent mortgage deal.
Other issues addressed by the deal include the reinstatement of doctors, salary harmonisation, and the promotion of doctors by mid-May.
Nairobi County doctors kicked off their strike on February 28. In a statement on Wednesday, February 26, KMPDU said that the strike was due to a series of factors, including illegal salary stoppages and dismissals, chronic salary delays, stalled promotions, unpaid gratuities, and delayed confirmation letters.
The doctors revealed that they had conducted numerous engagements with the Nairobi county government for the past two years over the implementation of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), but the engagements had borne no fruit.
KMPDU warned that the factors had played a key role in incapacitating doctors from effectively executing their mandate in the county.
"Strike notice: All Nairobi County doctors will down their tools at midnight on February 27 due to illegal salary stoppages and dismissals, chronic salary delays, stalled promotions, unpaid gratuities, and delayed confirmation letters," it stated.
On Thursday, March 13, a court in Nairobi summoned the Nairobi CBA Committee members to record a statement on the strike.
Among those summoned were the county secretary, CEC Health, chief officer of health, chief officer of public health, branch chairman, branch secretary, and branch treasurer.
