The Two Governors, Sakaja And Njuri Meet Over An Averted Doctors' Strike

In an effort to avoid a strike that is scheduled to begin in January 2023, Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja (COG Labour) and his Tharaka Nithi counterpart Muthomi Njuki (COG Health) met with the national leadership of the doctors union.

The doctors demand that the government uphold commitments made in a collective bargaining agreement (CBA) that covers the years 2017 through 2021.

This follows a December 19, 2022 warning from the Kenya Medical Practitioners Pharmacists Dentists Union (KMPDU) that the strike notice would be given after the intent of notice expired on December 28, 2022.

Governor Sakaja added in the statement, "We are making fantastic progress, and I'm certain that we shall prevent this strike.’’

However, Sakaja claimed in a statement on his official social media website that a meeting held in his office on December 28 made significant progress toward resolving the issues brought up by the medical professionals.

‘’As we start the new year, around the 5th, or 6th of January 2023, all the doctors in the country will be on strike and we don't threaten, we will proceed on strike because we have court judgments that support this," KMPDU Secretary General Davji Atella had said.

He further stated that the two governors had agreed to cooperate with the union to see that the union's demands were fulfilled. Davji added that a further meeting to wrap up the discussions on the implementation framework would take place before January 5, 2023.

Basic compensation modifications, the establishment of call rooms, the posting of medical interns, the hiring of more doctors, and the provision of working instruments are a few of the issues raised by the doctors.