Doctors now say that their efforts to hold meaningful negotiations with the Government over their terms of service have hit the brick wall. The medics are now warning Kenyans to brace for a strike from December 5.
We do not know yet why the talks did not take off. However, the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union has accused the Government of dragging their feet in starting negotiations.
Time is of essence; December 5 is only a heartbeat away.
The Government seems to be employing delaying tactics as it did with the lecturers and only showed willingness to negotiate shortly before expiry of the dons’ strike notice.
The threat by doctors to down tools should not be taken lightly. Don’t be mistaken; it is a matter of life and death. Buying time won’t help. The strike can only be forestalled by getting to the negotiation table with the doctors.
There are no shortcuts about it. The sooner the Government realises this the better.
Anything else would be playing Russian Roulette with poor Kenyans’ lives.
