Doctors did it

In our previous newsletter, we broke down the doctors' strike citing the main issues and stakeholders involved and encouraging you to reflect on solutions. On 8th Wednesday, after a heated 4 am discussion, the doctors union (KMPDU) signed a return to work agreement with the government ending their 56-day national strike.

Where was the solution hiding you ask? On Monday, The Labour Relations Court gave both parties 48 hours to sign an agreement or else the court would make a final decision after listening to their petitions. Some of the items agreed upon from the Collective Bargaining Agreements 2017 (CBA's) include:

• Doctors will receive pending salaries in 15 days and the national government will disburse sh.3.5 billion to counties for payment within five years.
• Comprehensive medical cover for all doctors will be implemented by 1st July 2024.
• Post-graduate school fees for doctors from 2018 will be paid by 1st July 2024
• Governors will create a new CBA with doctors in 30 days and sign it in 90 days.

Much as KMPDU agreed to return to work, they will continue fighting for intern wages — sh. 206,000 under the 2017 CBA — so interns will not be posted in 60 days. The union has signed on as an interested party in a court case on the same despite the government advising them to drop the case so they can settle out of court.

In 2017, Kenyan doctors working in public hospitals held the longest strike in Kenya's history — a hundred days — to demand better wages and 2024's strike comes in second place.

"The loss of lives along the way has been heavy and since we've been here before my advice is that we should never find ourselves here again. There's no victory here, we are in a hostage situation" - Abidan Mwachi, KMPDU chair.

Health Cabinet Secretary, Susan Nakhumicha, acknowledged the issues that led to the doctors’ strike are systemic and precede the current government so require a lasting solution. “The deal breaker was ‘is this a deal for execution or just for signing’, I’m confident in what we have signed today, having consulted widely, this is a deal that is going to be implemented by all of us " she reassured Kenyans.

It's easy to experience fatigue from news about strikes but systemic changes call for strategic sustained efforts. CS Nakhumicha herself said the doctors put up quite a fight and have proven to be better negotiators than the government. Let's hope that the agreement is implemented so that we never find ourselves here again as Abdian said.

Read the full newsletter here.