Senators Omar, Kilonzo in bid to end doctors strike

Two senators have announced their resolve to convene a joint heath sector players’ forum to try and bring to an end the medical doctors strike that is now in its 42^nd day.

Speaking after a meeting with officials of the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Union, Mombasa Senator Hassan Omar and his Makueni Counterpart Mutula Kilonzo Junior said the meeting would bring together the Ministry of Health, KMPDU, and several committee heads in the senate to push for the implementation of the contentious 2013 collective bargaining agreement (CBA).

The two criticized the government for threatening to fir doctors, saying it (government) should negotiating with the striking medics to end the strike for the sake of Kenyans.

“The style of ending the strike should be about negotiations rather than threats. Let the government take full responsibility for the deaths and suffering of people,” they said.

The two senators have also called on the government and the doctors to loosen their hardline stance and find a common ground to save Kenyans who continue to bear the brunt of the industrial action.

“Parties in the stalemate are acting in bad faith,” they remarked.