No respite for Nairobians as County, Doctors Union talks to resolve strike stall
In the proposed return to work agreement, which the medics say is a proposal by the County, City Hall promised to reinstate two doctors whom they had illegally dismissed,
For over a month, Nairobians have been having pain visiting hospitals operated by the City County government, as doctors on its payroll remain on strike for the fifth week now.
Even though there seemed to be light with the doctors and the county officials meeting as directed by the court, the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Union (KMPDU) Nairobi branch officials have accused City Hall of forcing a return to work formula on them without involving them when making it.
Speaking to the Informer Media Group, KMPDU Nairobi Chapter Secretary Chao Malindi stated that they made their proposals in writing to the County government but instead of submitting theirs, they decided to come up with a return to work formula.
“Return to work formula is not a letter where you sign your part and send it to the other party to sign it. It’s an agreement that has been agreed upon by all parties. We gave them our proposals, which we didn’t sign for them to give us their counterproposal, but they sent theirs back asking us to sign. It does not work like that,” Malindi explained.
She refuted claims by the county that they had agreed on the return to work formula
“We had a meeting, but we did not agree on the return-to-work formula,” she remarked.
Last week, the County doctors held a meeting to decide whether to agree with the county proposals, as they have made it clear that they are waiting for the county to call them to a meeting.
“We are waiting for them to call us, and that shows how unserious they are about ensuring County doctors return to work,” she added.
Malindi did not reveal whether the doctors agreed with the return to work formula.
Earlier this week, the Nairobi City County Chief Officer for Public Health, Tom Nyakaba, claimed that the county is at a crossroads as they are wondering why the medics failed to sign the return to work formula even after they came up with it as a team from the County and the medics’ union.
“I do not know where the challenge is because the County team signed their part, but the doctors have not yet signed. As the administration, we have already signed. The agreement was reached as a team and was not one-sided, and the doctors’ union leaders can confirm the same,” Nyakaba explained.
The Chief Officer stated that he was not aware if there was a meeting with medics this week, as he added that they were waiting for them to sign the return to work formula and see services in the county hospitals return to normalcy.
The medics and the county administration met last week after directions from the court, where City Hall officials had gone to seek intervention to see the return of services.
In the proposed return to work agreement, which the medics say is a proposal by the County, Nairobi City County promised to reinstate two doctors whom they had illegally dismissed, as stated by KMPDU.
The Johnson Sakaja administration and the doctors agreed those whose salaries were stopped would be paid their salary arrears together with the March salary, even as they committed to addressing the repetitive delay of salaries by ensuring a timely remittance.
“NCCG commits to issuing confirmation letters after the completion of due process. Following the deliberations of the CHRMAC, doctors who were dismissed from service shall be reinstated by 31st March 2025. The Parties agree that NCCG has made progressive steps despite the late disbursements of funds by the National Government. NCCG commits to ensuring the prompt remittance of salaries,” the proposal by the county read in part.
The City administration further promised to ensure Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) remittance is done, as they also promised to pay the medical covers for the medics, together with disbursement the car and mortgage loans.
“NCCG contends that the mandate to pay gratuity rests with the National Government for the period worked. NCCG, by letter dated 20th March 2025, wrote to the PSC inviting them to a roundtable meeting to be held on 2nd April 2025 to consider and pay gratuity,” the proposal to the doctors added.
On promotion, the county government promised to form a technical committee to do an assessment that would see the promotion of the qualified doctors.
Also, it promised not to victimise the doctors for halting their services to county facilities.
The City doctors have now entered the fifth week of their strike following illegal stoppage of salaries and dismissals, delay of salaries, stalled promotions, unpaid gratuities, and delayed confirmations.
At the start of the strike, the medics reiterated that they do not choose to strike, but circumstances force them to as they are incapacitated by the county, adding that they must be valued and supported by the administration.
“All Nairobi County doctors will down their tools tomorrow midnight due to illegal salary stoppages and dismissals, chronic salary delays, stalled promotions, unpaid gratuities, and delayed confirmation letters,” KMPDU Nairobi branch said earlier this month in a statement.
“We don’t choose to strike. How can we care for patients when we are deliberately incapacitated? Doctors must be valued, supported, and empowered to serve,” it added.
