President William Ruto has urged doctors to end their strike as the government works towards ensuring their demands are met.
Addressing Kenyans during labour day celebrations at Uhuru Gardens in Nairobi on Wednesday, Ruto told medics that the government is unable to meet all their demands wholly due to financial constraints.
“We have tabled what the government is ready to do; 17 out of the 19 demands, the rest is not possible because of financial constraints,” he said.
“I beseech doctors to go back to work, we will sort things out, fix the economy and everyone will get their due in the future. We must be brutally honest with one another, there is no need to lie.”
Doctors who have been on strike since March 14, have abandoned their duty stations and have been protesting the government’s failure to post medical interns and obey a 2017 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) on doctors’ labour terms.
As the strike entered its 49th day on Wednesday, President Ruto, urged doctors to consider their strike’s effect on the country’s healthcare and resume their duties for what he described as the public’s well-being.
“While the right to undertake industrial action is enshrined in our constitution and labour laws, it must be exercised responsibly, and with due regard for the well-being of the public. I urge all parties involved to act in good faith and prioritize the interests of our citizens,” he said.
“Respect for court orders is paramount, and adherence to legal processes is essential in resolving disputes effectively,” the president added in a reference to the Employment and Labour Relations Court’s suspension of the protracted strike to pave the way for further negotiations.
Comment here