Striking doctors pay talks hit deadlock

Talks between striking doctors and the Government stalled yesterday after both sides failed to reach an agreement.

The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU), Ministry of Health and Council of Governors (CoG) failed to agree on outstanding issues.

The two sides met Law Society of Kenya and Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) mediators for at least one hour last evening.

However, Health Principal Secretary Nicholas Muraguri did not attend the meeting.

After the meeting, the KPMDU, CoG and Ministry of Health officials declined to talk to the Press.

However, sources told The Standard that the talks had hit a stalemate, even after all sides took a break on Monday to consult their members over outstanding issues.

LSK and KNCHR mediators will be presenting a progressive report today in the court.

The mediators said some progress had been made but there were still outstanding issues that needed to be agreed upon by the two sides.

The mediators said it is now upon the court to decide whether or not to extend the time for mediation so that an agreement is reached.

The mediation team comprises of KNCHR chairperson Kagwiria Mbogori who is chairing it, James Mang'erere from KNCHR, John Morris Ohaga and Njeri Kariuki from LSK.

The KPMDU officials include Ouma Oluga (secretary general) Samuel Oroko (chairman), Allan Ochanji, Mwachonda Chibanzi, Daisy Korir, Everlyne Njeri and Titus Ondoro.

The officials had been jailed for a night for defying the Employment and Labour Relations Court's orders that had directed them to call off the strike.

They were freed so as to continue with negotiations.

The ruling by the Court of Appeal unlocked a deadlock that had threatened to paralyse the country's medical sector after private hospitals announced plans to join the boycott.