The Cabinet Secretary (CS) for Labour and Social Protection Florence Bore has asked the health workers to consider dialogue to end the ongoing crisis in the sector.
In a statement dated Thursday, April 11, Bore noted that the ongoing strike was putting Kenyans at risk, insisting on the need for the workers to get back to work.
Bore has insisted on the need to employ negotiations as the way forward in resolving the looming crisis and consider both parties in the final decision.
Citing the Industrial Relations Framework, the statement highlighted social dialogue, tripartite relations, social equity, fairness, justice and the rule of law as the building blocks for negotiations in resolving the health crisis.
“I wish to remind the unions that whereas the framework to exercise freedom of Association and the right to industrial action is provided for in the Constitution, the right to strike is not absolute,” Bore warned.
The Ministry further directed the Unions involved to suspend the nationwide strike and sit down with the Ministry of Health and the 47 counties.
“The union needs to direct its members to get back to work, to pave the way for meaningful negotiations to take place to find a lasting solution,” the letter read in part.
Speaking to the practitioners directly, Bore urged the doctors, clinical officers and laboratory technicians to return to work and give dialogue a chance.
“It is our position that industrial peace and harmony must be maintained at all times for the well-being of everybody.”
Following the four-week doctors' strike, several counties have resulted in suspension and threatened to get the health workers back to work.
Nyeri, Kisumu, and Tharaka Nithi, among others, have so far taken actions ranging from halting payments to suspending those still participating in the strike.
Azimio leader Raila Odinga breaking his silence on the ongoing crisis, addressed the issue surrounding the unprocedural termination of contracts, citing recent steps taken by various counties on striking county doctors.
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