Talks between President Uhuru Kenyatta and the doctors’ union at statehouse Mombasa ended last evening without a deal, despite the government tabling a substantive offer.
In the new offer, the government intends to increase the salary from the current Sh140,244 to Sh196,989 per month for the lowest earning doctor.
Also, the offer includes to move the entry point of doctors from job group ‘L’, which is the entry level of all public servants, to job group ‘M’.
The new offer will also see the doctors receive a flat risk allowance of Sh10,000, with an emergency call allowance of Sh30,000.
The doctors’ union officials however asked for some time to consult their members, and will be back on Friday to continue with the talks, holding out for a 300 per cent salaries increase.
The doctors’ strike has continued for the last 31 days, paralyzing operations in major hospitals across the country.
According to the government’s projection, the adjustments in the salaries is expected to cost the taxpayer a total of Sh5 billion annually, for the 5,000 doctors.
Statehouse spokesperson Manoa Esipisu described the offer as ‘a responsible one’, as the government is tasked with managing the country’s finances in a proper way.
The meeting, which was convened by President Kenyatta was attended by top officials from the health docket, including CS Cleopha Mailu, Treasury CS Henry Rotich, and Salaries and Remuneration Commission chair Sarah Serem.