Doctors End Strike After Uhuru Steps In

KMPDU acting Secretary general Dr. Chibanzi Mwachonda
KMPDU acting Secretary-general Dr. Chibanzi Mwachonda
Twitter

President Uhuru Kenyatta on Thursday, December 24 intervened to end the weeks-long doctors' strike that has paralysed the health sector.

Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) acting Secretary-General Chibanzi Mwachonda revealed that Uhuru played a key role to end the doctor's strike.

"Doctors will provide services for you in the facilities and we continue to engage and hope that come January, we shall continue these types of engagements to ensure during the pandemic, all our doctors are assured of safety.

President Uhuru Kenyatta speaking during the Jamhuri Day celebrations at Nyayo Stadium on December 12, 2020
President Uhuru Kenyatta speaking during the Jamhuri Day celebrations at Nyayo Stadium on December 12, 2020
File

"On that note, I would like to declare that the strike by KMPDU has now been called off, we shall continue further engagements to follow up on all other matters that were raised in the industrial action dated 16th November," noted Mwachonda.

The meeting to end the healthcare workers strike was attended by Health CS Mutahi Kagwe and Labour CS Simon Chelugui.

Kagwe hailed the dialogue between his Ministry and the healthcare workers adding that an end to the strike is a Christmas gift to Kenyans. 

"This is a new way of doing things, coming to the table and clearing issues. It is a win-win situation, nobody loses in this kind of discussions.

"I'm happy that we have come to this resolution at a critical time, we were hoping to give this gift to Kenyans over Christmas and we have managed to do so," explained the CS.

Kagwe added that the Ministry is focused on not only averting future strikes by health care workers but to also improve healthcare in the country.

The doctors and healthcare workers have been promised standard personal protective equipment (PPE) as they continue to attend to Kenyans during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The doctors have also begun discussions with the government to reinstate the healthcare workers who were sacked during the pandemic. 

Nurses and Clinical Officers downed tools Monday, December 7, in protest of lack of sufficient Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) for those in the frontline in the war against Covid-19.

A medical practitioner dressed in protective gear at Coronavirus isolation and treatment facility in Mbagathi District Hospital on Friday, March 6, 2020
A medical practitioner dressed in protective gear at Mbagathi District Hospital on Friday, March 6, 2020
Simon Kiragu
Kenyans.co.ke