President William Ruto says the government will engage stakeholders in the health sector, including health workers' unions, to promote industrial harmony and long-lasting solutions to challenges experienced by personnel in the sector.

Speaking at State House, Nairobi on Saturday, when he met the leadership of the Kenya Medical Practitioners Pharmacists and Dentists Union led by Secretary-General Davji Atellah, President Ruto pledged to consistently address the persistent human resource challenges that slow down realization of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) across the country. 

"By continually engaging with stakeholders, including labour unions, we aim to promote industrial harmony and sustainable solutions to our challenges," Ruto said in a statement on X after the meeting.

On its part, KMPDU committed to championing and supporting UHC and the roll out of the Social Health Insurance Fund to all Kenyans. 

Health of Public Service Felix Kosgei, Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha and Principal Secretary in the State Department of Public Health and Professional Standards Mary Muthoni were all present during the meeting.

The caucus comes just three days after the long-standing doctors' strike came to an end 56 days after it started.

The agreement came as a result of day and night meetings on Tuesday between KMPDU and the government through the Council of Governors (CoG) as well as the Ministry of Health.

Atellah, speaking during a press address on Wednesday evening, said the union’s National Advisory Council had backed the resolutions that came out of the said meetings, hence precipitating the need to call off the strike.

The KMPDU boss pointed out that the highly contentious issue of posting and remuneration of intern doctors still remains unsolved, with the matter now left to the courts to handle.

He revealed that the union had entered a 60-day agreement with the government during which further talks on how to move forward with the medical interns’ grievances will be held.

“One of the fundamental issues, that is the matter of doctor interns was filed in court Eldoret, and has been part of the conversations but we could not come to a particular agreement. The union was of the opinion that the interns must be posted immediately as per the CBA, while government was of the opinion that we have to await the court litigation that is ongoing in Eldoret before we come to an agreement,” said Dr. Atellah.

“We have a joint caveat that is going on, and all the doctor interns – medical officers, pharmacists and dentists – will have to wait a little bit longer. We have agreed on a 60-day period that they will not be posted, but we will be having conversations on this issue.”