Government pleads with health workers to call off strike
Health Principal Secretary (PS) Mary Muriuki has called on the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists, and Dentists Union (KMPDU) to halt the countrywide strike set to begin on March 14.
In a television interview, Ms Muriuki implored on the union to instead seeking alternative conflict resolution mechanisms to settle the impasse with government.
“I’m pleading with the unions to come to the table so we can move forward together. I’m also pleading with not to go on strike,” she said
Muriuki noted the presence of a mediator tasked with facilitating dialogue between the conflicting parties to address their respective concerns. She confirmed an upcoming meeting scheduled for March 13 and appealed to Kenyans for patience as they endeavor to resolve the lingering issues.
“We have been engage with the union to resolve the stalemate. to ensure we progress as a country together. It is not in the interest of any of us, those in the ministry or the unions to go on strike or down their tools,” she explained.
This comes in after the union Secretary General Davji Atellah confirmed the planned industrial action will proceed as planned.
In a statement released on X, Atellah expressed disappointment over the lack of progress since the union announced the nationwide strike, citing what he described as a lack of commitment from the government side as the chief reason for proceeding with the strike.
“It is sad that despite our readiness for meetings at the Ministry of Health, there has been no significant progress to report. As our strike notice expires at midnight tomorrow, our industrial action will commence,” he said.
He emphasised the union’s commitment to prioritizing both healthcare workers and patients, envisioning a healthcare system where their needs are paramount.
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