Atwoli blames Mailu, Muraguri bad blood for doctors’ stalemate

Internal wrangles in the Ministry of Health between Cabinet Secretary Cleopa Mailu and his Principal Secretary Dr Nicholas Muraguri are frustrating the ongoing efforts to reach a return-to-work-deal with striking doctors.

Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU) Secretary General Francis Atwoli, who was appointed by the court to mediate between the government and the doctors’ union, has lamented the differences between the two, saying it is impeding his efforts.

“I am calling on President Uhuru Kenyatta to separate his cabinet secretary and principal secretary,” said Atwoli

Kenya Medical Practioners and Dentists Union (KMPDU) officials will appear before Milimani Commercial and Labour Relations Court on Monday February 13 to know their fate regarding the one-month suspended jail sentence after the court hesitated to jail them on previous two occasions.

Atwoli now wants President Uhuru Kenyatta to step in to save the situation that has paralyzed medical services in public hospitals for the last 70 days.

Speaking at a Church Service in Makuyuni Catholic Church, Makueni County, Atwoli castigated senior doctors operating private dispensaries for misguiding their officials in the ongoing talks for their own selfish interests.

Atwoli advised the medics to drop their hard stance and accept a return-to-work deal tabled by the government, as their officials continue negotiating for a permanent solution.

“I burnt the midnight oil persuading doctors’ officials to take the government deal so that we can continue negotiating for a comprehensive CBA while their colleagues are at work but they have refused. And that is not the way that we handle labour relation disputes,” decried Atwoli.

Atwoli had been allowed seven days to mediate the two parties after pleading with the court not to jail the KMPDU officials.