No pending pay talks to call off strike – doctors

The Kenya Medical Association (KMA) on Wednesday, Marc 8, reiterated the doctors’ willingness and openness to negotiate in the remaining part of the mediation process to end the over three-month long strike.

Addressing the press at the KMA Centre in Nairobi, KMA National chair, Jacqueline Kitulu, said the negotiation process under the leadership of the clergy proceeded well adding that only a few clauses on the-return-to-work agreement are yet to be concluded.

While insisting that the process is in a critical stage, Kitulu called for all the parties involved to meet one more time and conclude the remaining bit in a bid to call off the strike.

“All the mutual agreements between the doctors and the employer have been concluded and ready or signing,” said Ms Kitulu.

“There is a lot of good will to have the doctors return to work.”

Kitulu was keen to note that the remaining bit was not monetary as reported by a section of the media.

She sought to clarify that: “There is just but a few clauses and once that is done we will get the doctors back to work.”

“Nothing about money is in contention.”

This followed just hours after the Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) sacked 12 doctors for taking part in the ongoing nationwide strike.

According to KNH Chief Executive Officer, Lily Koros, 48 other doctors are undergoing disciplinary action.

She says those fired refused to resume work as ordered by the government on Tuesday, March 7.

Elsewhere, the Council of Governors Chairman, Peter Munya, says counties have been given the green-light to start issuing dismissal letters to the striking doctors and hire new personnel.

Earlier on, the union officials led by the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) Secretary General, Dr Ouma Oluga, insisted that the Recognition Agreement and the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) as amended and revised should be signed before they can return to work.