Health CS Susan Nakhumicha has once again failed to show up for negotiations with doctors over the strike that has paralysed the health sector.
According to reports, the Kenya Medical Practitioners Pharmacists Dentists Union (KMPDU) had attended the meeting that was planned with the Health ministry led by Susan Nakhumicha.
However, on reaching the meeting, the doctors official were welcomed with empty room with no government officials. On waiting, they were nowhere to be seen for the Wednesday meeting.
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Through their social media, KMPDU expressed frustrations with the move, citing that the negligence by the CS Susan Nakhumicha-led team was proof of the government’s inability to heed the citizens’ pleas.
“Despite our openness to discussions and negotiations, it’s disheartening that our government has abandoned the negotiation table, failing its citizens. The ongoing doctors’ strike highlights their disregard for public health. It’s not the doctors on strike, it’s the government.”
The negotiations between the two parties were aimed at solving the standoff and bringing an end to the doctors’ strike which is on its 14th day.
This comes hours after the Council of Governors chairperson Anne Waiguru had warned the doctors to call off the strike and head to their respective areas of work or else stern action would be taken against them
“We ask the doctors to show goodwill and return to work as negotiations go on. We also call upon the doctors to return to work pursuant to court orders issued on March 13, 2024, and March 15, 2024.”
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Waiguru also called on KMPDU to negotiate a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) with the county governments as a form of goodwill should they call off the strike
“We encourage the union to negotiate the new CBAs with the county governments who are their employers. This cannot be negotiated from the national level because health is a devolved function.”