Gatanga Leaders Urge Resolution to Doctors’ Strike Through Negotiation

GATANGA, Kenya — Amid an ongoing health crisis in public hospitals due to a doctors’ strike, former Gatanga MP Peter Kenneth and current Gatanga MP Edward Muriu have called for both the government and striking doctors to soften their positions to resolve the deadlock. The appeal came during the burial of a local farmer in Gatanga, Murang’a County.

According to Kenya News Agency, it is crucial for the government to demonstrate leadership by negotiating with the doctors to bring an end to the strike that has left many Kenyans without access to essential medical services. He emphasized the urgency of the situation, noting that many people are dying at home due to the inability to receive treatment at private facilities.

Muriu echoed Kenneth’s sentiments, urging the doctors to accept the government’s current offer and return to work. He highlighted the economic constraints faced by the country, arguing that meeting the doctors’ full demands could lead to a significant increase in the wage bill across all sectors, potentially destabilizing the economy.

The dialogue between the two factions has been stymied, with the strike now in its fifth week and no resolution in sight. The government remains firm on its offer of a Sh70,000 monthly stipend for intern medical doctors, while the Kenya Medical Practitioners Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) insists on terms outlined in their 2017 Collective Bargaining Agreement.

Muriu also criticized the approach of some governors who have threatened to sack the striking doctors, arguing that such actions are counterproductive and that dialogue and reasonable proposals are necessary to reach a solution.