Health Principal Secretary (PS) Mary Muthoni Muriuki pleads with the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists, and Dentists Union (KMPDU) to stop their impending strike.
Muriuki recognized that a strike notice expires today and urged KMPDU to postpone the industrial action and seek alternate conflict resolution.
“I am pleading with the unions to come to the table so that we can move forward together. I am also pleading with them that they don't go on strike,” she said.
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Muriuki acknowledged unsolved concerns between the ministry and the unions and that striking would not be the wisest course of action.
“We have been meeting with the unions for the last one week to try and crack down 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 stated.
Muriuki added that they have a mediator who brings the two sides together and listens to their concerns.
She noted that a meeting is scheduled for Wednesday and urged Kenyans to be patient as they work to resolve the outstanding concerns.
KMPDU Secretary General Davji Atellah said that the planned strikes would occur on Thursday because there have been no developments on the doctors' demands.
"It is sad that despite availing ourselves for meetings at the Ministry of Health, there have been no worthwhile developments to report to you, and tomorrow midnight, our strike notice shall expire, and our industrial action will begin," Atellah said.
