Raila Odinga, leader of the Azimio la Umoja opposition coalition, seen here during a previous event. Image| Courtesy
In Summary:
- Raila Odinga, leader of the Azimio la Umoja opposition coalition, applauds the government and medical workers for reaching an agreement to end the 56-day public hospital strike.
- Odinga urges both parties to uphold their commitments to prevent future crises, emphasizing the importance of honoring Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs).
Raila Odinga, the leader of the Azimio la Umoja opposition coalition, has expressed his approval of the recent agreement between the government and medical workers, which effectively concludes the 56-day strike that had brought public hospitals to a standstill.
In a statement released to various news outlets, Odinga acknowledged the hardships endured by the public during the strike period and urged both the government and healthcare professionals to uphold their respective obligations outlined in the newly reached agreement.
He stressed the significance of adhering to Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs) to prevent similar crises from arising in the future.
“We extend our congratulations to the Kenya Dentists and Medical Practitioners Union for their successful negotiations with the government, resulting in the Return to Work Formula agreed upon today. However, it’s regrettable that this resolution came at the expense of public suffering, which could have been avoided,” remarked Odinga.
Odinga further called upon the government to swiftly implement its commitments as outlined in the agreement, viewing it as a crucial step towards demonstrating accountability and rectifying past grievances related to CBAs and court rulings.
He cautioned that any failure to honor the agreement would be met with scrutiny and criticism.
“We are vigilant, and we will not hesitate to hold accountable any party that fails to uphold the terms of today’s agreement,” Odinga asserted.
The strike, initiated by the Kenya Medical Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU), was officially called off following the signing of a return to work formula with both the national and county governments.
Key resolutions included the commitment to harmonize terms of service within 90 days, as well as the immediate settlement of outstanding fees for government-sponsored postgraduate registrars dating back to 2018.
However, unresolved issues remain regarding the remuneration of intern doctors, with the matter currently pending before a court in Eldoret.
While the government has deferred this issue, the KMPDU continues to advocate for the immediate implementation of intern postings as stipulated in the 2017-2021 collective bargaining agreement.