The Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Union (KMPDU) has dismissed reports claiming that medical workers have reached an agreement with the government to end the ongoing strike that has lasted for over 50 days now.

KMPDU Secretary General Dr Davji Atellah revealed they were due for a meeting at State House later in the afternoon but no return-to-work agreement had been reached as earlier claimed.

He noted that should they reach a consensus on the pending issues including the payment for medical interns then the union would call off the industrial action.

"From the point we were last time the issues that had to be resolved like doctor internship, employment of more doctors, KNH doctors that are being exploited, postgraduate doctors, these issues have not been resolved," said Dr Atella.

He went on to state: "We got an invitation from the government for a meeting to come up with a return to work agreement at 2.30 pm. We cannot sign a return-to-work agreement if we do not iron out the issues that are pending. We will only sign once these issues are resolved and as of now nothing has been resolved."

KMPDU Deputy Secretary General Dr Dennis Miskellah also dismissed as "fake news" an earlier pronouncement by State House Director of Public Communication Gerald Bitok that the outstanding issues had been resolved.

On Thursday, the High Court directed the government and the striking doctors to sign a return-to-work formula to be adopted by the court on Monday, May 6, 2024.

The Employment and Labour Relations Court declined to order the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) to call off the ongoing strike before signing a return-to-work formula as requested by the government. 

Justice Byram Ongaya directed the two parties to set aside the issue of remuneration of intern doctors saying the case is already before an Eldoret court.