President Kenyatta ‘meets’ striking doctors

President Uhuru Kenyatta is set to meet doctors’ union officials at State House, Mombasa in a bid to end the medics’ strike that entered its 31st day Wednesday, January 4, 2017.

President Kenyatta, in his New Year address to the state, expressed optimism that a solution on the striking doctors would be reached.

The doctors downed their tools early December demanding a 300% pay rise, improved working conditions and recruitment of more doctors to reduce the current doctor to patient ratio that stands at 1:16,000.

Despite the Employment and Labour Relations Court declaring the strike illegal, the doctors remained adamant saying they would only return to work on condition that the 2013 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) entered with the government is implemented.

Several meetings between the doctors’ union, the Ministry of Health and the Council of Governors have failed with the medics storming out of the talks.