Mambo Mseto has reliably learned that the office of the Attorney General (AG) today expressed its readiness to engage in discussions with the striking doctors within the next 24 hours. This decision comes amidst a nationwide strike that has seen medical services disrupted for weeks.
However, this olive branch is extended with a caveat: the doctors must put their strike on hold. The AG’s office insists that the meeting is contingent upon the suspension of the current strike, signaling a potential thaw in what has been a frosty standoff.
Attorney General J.B Muturi gestures during a past parliamentary sitting.
Lead counsel Ochieng Oduol and Oscar Eredi, representing the AG’s office, conveyed this message to Justice Byrum Ongaya. They assured that the coordination of the meeting would be overseen by the head of public services and that the myriad of concerns raised by the doctors would be thoroughly addressed.
The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU), which boasts a membership of over 7,000 healthcare professionals, initiated the strike on March 15. The strike action was a response to unmet demands concerning working conditions, pay disputes, and the provision of adequate medical supplies and equipment.
President William Ruto wearing a personal protective equipment gear during a past health event
The proposed meeting is a significant development in the ongoing dispute and offers a glimmer of hope for a resolution. Both the government and the medical community are under immense pressure to find common ground, not only to end the strike but also to restore essential health services to the public.
As the nation waits with bated breath, the coming hours are crucial. The outcome of this proposed dialogue could mark a turning point in the relationship between the government and its healthcare workers, with the well-being of millions hanging in the balance.
