Health Cabinet Secretary (CS) Cleopha Mailu has promised that the government will appeal to have the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Union (KMPDU) officials released from jail.
Appearing before the Senate Health Committee on Tuesday, Mailu stated that the government would “do all within its powers to get the seven freed”.
The CS added that the government was interested in continuing with negotiations with the officials, noting that the talks would not be possible with the seven behind bars.
"I will plead with Appeal Court to free the jailed officials of doctors' union to allow talks continue. The ministry is willing to continue negotiating. My prayer is that they are released from prison and within two or so days we can strike a deal. We need to resolve this issue for doctors to go back to work," he stated.
Mailu had been summoned by the Wilfred Machage-led committee to respond to various issues regarding the doctors' strike including allegations of a dispute between him and Principal Secretary Nicholas Muraguri.
The Health CS maintained that though they were ready to proceed with the talks, the controversial 2013 CBA was defective since it was not approved by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission.
The Cabinet Secretary had earlier clarified that the government did not have a hand in the imprisonment of the KMPDU officials since they were jailed for contempt of court.
He further added that the case facing the doctors had been filed by the Council of Governors after attempts to call off the strike failed.
Read Also: Judge Hellen Wasilwa Jails Kenya Medical Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) Officials
The governors, through chairman Peter Munya, explained that they were forced to head to the courts after the talks failed.
Munya regretted the imprisonment of the seven but added they were still committed and ready to continue negotiating on all the issues surrounding the strike.
Read Also: Private Hospitals to be Closed to Protest Jailing of KMPDU Officials
