09 May 2024 | 10:58 AM UTC
Kenya: Unionized healthcare workers agree to end nationwide strike, as of May 9 /update 2
Healthcare workers and government agree to end nearly two-month-long nationwide strike in Kenya, as of May 9; healthcare delays possible.
Unionized healthcare workers and the Kenyan government have reached an agreement to end a nationwide strike as of May 9. The announcement came on May 8 after a labor court gave both parties 48 hours to sign an agreement resolving remuneration and working conditions issues.
Related healthcare service disruptions will possibly continue in the coming days as medical professionals work through appointment backlogs.
Confirm medical appointments over the coming days. Plan for medical service delays. Contact healthcare facilities in advance for information about wait times, which could vary among hospitals and clinics.
The nearly two-month-long strike began on March 14 following a collapse in negotiations with the government over increasing human and financial resources in the sector. Major unions, such as the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists, and Dentists Union (KMPDU), the Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN), the Kenya National Union of Medical Laboratory Officers (KNUMLO), the Kenya Union of Clinical Officers (KUCO), the Kenya Union of Nutritionists and Dietitians (KUND), the Kenya Union of Pharmaceutical Technologists (KUPT), and specialist doctors, joined the strike. Disruptions reportedly impacted emergency services, forcing authorities to hire temporary doctors.
