The government goes back to the table with the country’s doctors unions this week in a push to end the 51 day old strike by medics countrywide.
Order from the Labour Court early this month required officials of the Kenya Medical Practitioners Pharmacists and Dentists’ Union (KMPDU) end their strike by Thursday January 26 failure to which they would face a 30 days jail term.
That implies that KMPDU officials remain with three days to harmonize their acts with the government.
Health CS Cleopa Mailu on Sunday said the government is willing to chart the way forward through negotiations. However, Mailu maintained that the government cannot match the high salaries medics demand.
Medical practitioners resorted to the strike action to force the government honour their 2013 CBA that would among other things see them get a 300 percent pay rise.
“It is apparent the doctors’ union has engaged side shows and use of diversionary tactics to frustrate the efforts and intentions by the government to resolve the current impasse,” Mailu was quoted by The Star.
The Health CS affirmed that the Ministry would engage the doctors’ union on, a return to work formula besides addressing the contentious issues in the 2013 CBA as directed by the Labour Court.
President Uhuru Kenyatta had previously offered the medics a 40 per cent pay rise which was dismissed by the doctors unions.
Governors have lamented over poor involvement during negotiations on the 2013 CBA.