Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Union has asked for more time after the government offered a new pay deal that seeks to end the doctors' strike.
In a distinguished negotiation meeting convened by President Uhuru Kenyatta on Wednesday at State House, Mombasa, with the doctors' union, in a proposal tabled by the government, the entry point of doctors was enhanced from Job Group L to M, and salaries raised to Sh196,000, from the current Sh140,244.
However, it remained unclear if the doctors would agree to the new proposals by the government, given that it did not include the full implementation of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) signed in 2013 which the medics have been pursuing.
KMPDU sought more time to consider the package which, if agreed would see medical practitioners resume work after a month-long industrial action.
The negotiation meeting was also attended by Cabinet Secretaries Henry Rotich (Treasury), Cleopa Mailu (Health), Salaries and Remuneration Commission chairperson Sarah Serem and the chairperson of the Public Service Commission Margaret Kobia.