Kenya’s public hospital doctors have decided to return to work, thereby bringing an end to a nationwide strike that endured for almost two months.
Davji Atellah, the union secretary general, confirmed on May 8th that doctors have opted to trust the government’s commitment to address the underlying issues that sparked the strike. These issues primarily center around inadequate pay and working conditions.
This development follows a directive from a Kenyan labor court on Tuesday, May 7th, which gave doctors and the government 48 hours to finalize a return-to-work agreement. Failure to do so would have led to court intervention.
Government Response
Kenya’s Health Minister, Susan Nakhumicha, acknowledged that the doctors had demonstrated superior negotiation skills compared to the government’s side, noting that they had put up a formidable fight.
The resolution of the strike comes as a relief to millions of Kenyans reliant on public hospitals for healthcare services, which had been severely affected by the strike.
Some hospitals resorted to hiring temporary doctors to manage emergency services during the strike period.
Recollection
In 2017, doctors in Kenya’s public hospitals staged a 100-day strike — the country’s longest-ever industrial action — demanding improved wages and the restoration of the nation’s deteriorating public health facilities.
Currently, Kenya is grappling with the devastating impact of flooding, which has affected 235,000 people since mid-March, coinciding with the onset of the rainy season.