Health

Governors urge doctors to halt strike, resume talks

Council of Governors (CoG) chair Anne Waiguru addresses a meeting on the ongoing doctors' strike on March 27, 2024, at their offices at Delta House in Westlands, Nairobi. (Photo: CoG)

By Barack Oduor | Wednesday, March 27, 2024

CoG chair Anne Waiguru noted that a court declared the industrial action illegal, hence the need for the doctors to return to work.

Governors have urged striking medics countrywide to return to work immediately and allow talks with the government to resolve a standoff over demands including higher salaries and internship postings for medical graduates.

The Council of Governors (CoG) said on Wednesday that the doctors should, through their county unions, negotiate new Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs) with their counties, which are their employers.

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CoG chair Anne Waiguru noted that a court declared the industrial action illegal, hence the need for the doctors to return to work.

"We urge the national government, county governments and doctors to exercise sobriety as parties resolve this matter amicably. We also call upon doctors who are still on strike to go back to work," said Waiguru, who is the governor of Kirinyaga County.

According to the county chiefs, who raised concern that the action by medics has partly crippled the health sector, all counties are funding health to the best of their abilities despite the inconsistent funding from the national government.

"As of now, every county allocates at least 30 per cent of the total allocation to health," Waiguru said.

On the delayed posting of interns, the governors noted that this is a national government issue but that all internship training centres within counties are ready for the medical graduates.

The Council of Governors (CoG) during their meeting on March 27, 2024, regarding the ongoing doctors' strike, at their offices at Delta House in Westlands, Nairobi. (Photo: CoG)

On the contentious matter of the extension of contracts for UI-IC staff, the county chiefs said in their meeting held in Naivasha on February 12 last year that the Ministry of Health was directed to extend the contracts for three years under the same terms and conditions.

"We urge the ministry to implement this resolution of the summit as we look into their transition in future."

The governors also waded into the matter of the county governments' failure to release doctors for post-graduate training.

They noted that 890 doctors were released for the training, a demonstration of their compliance with regulations and willingness to facilitate their growth.

"The council urges the Ministry of Health to ensure timely payment of fees for our doctors on post-graduate training to allow them to complete their studies within the stipulated time and return to offer service to Kenyans without undue delay."

On disciplinary processes against released medical officers, including compulsory head counts and termination, the governors reiterated that they are in line with human resource procedures and policies.

"It is important to note that desertion of duty is a disciplinary issue, not a unionisable issue to warrant a nationwide strike," Waiguru said. "As expected, disciplinary action has been taken against doctors who have absconded in various counties."

The governors averred that the delays in payment of salaries are premised on fund releases by the National Treasury.

"It is not an individual county issue nor a health sector issue. It cuts across the board and affects all county employees," Waiguru said.