Healthcare providers in public hospitals where physicians have been on a month-long strike will have to wait longer for their treatments.

Following his Wednesday request for additional time to hold talks with the court regarding the ongoing doctors' strike, Attorney General Justin Muturi took this action.

Senior Counsel Ochieng Oduol, representing the AG, informed the court that the government had made headway in the negotiations and had submitted the necessary reports.

The AG claims unresolved logistics concerns exist and that the Council of Governors must still provide the necessary funding for the minimal safety services.


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"We request for more time to continue engaging in good faith because an amicable resolution of the matter is key," Ochieng told the court. 

The Attorney General (AG) asked the court to extend the injunctions halting the current strike, which has been ordered by the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists' Union (KMPDU), during his appearance before Justice Byrum Ongaya.

The doctors have not yet called off their strike, so the petitioners have asked the court to hold them in contempt of court.

KMPDU informed the court that they have not yet received all of the documents that other parties have served on them.

According to the Salaries and Renumeration Commission (SRC), it has participated in the discussions and reconciliation process.


"We do support the AG that time be extended to reach an amicable solution. Also we confirm that we have found that there are unique issues relating to counties and would be useful and more effective that the union engages the counties," SRC said. 

The court granted the disputing parties 14 days on April 3, 2024, to wrap up the ongoing reconciliation process.

Judge Ongaya asked parties to negotiate while extending orders to halt the current doctors' strike.

As directed by the court, the government has since instructed physicians through Head of Public Service Felix Koskei to halt the strike before holding talks, a problem in which KMPDU has shown no interest.