Kenya: Government talks with striking doctors hit deadlock

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

Local media reports say that the main doctor’s union, the health ministry and the Council of Governors failed to agree on outstanding issues.

Reports further indicate that the two sides had met the Law Society of Kenya and Kenya National Commission on Human Rights mediators for at least one hour on Wednesday evening, according to The Standard.

The mediators will be presenting a progressive report today in the court. They also said some progress had been made but there were still outstanding issues that needed to be agreed upon by the two sides, The Standard further reports.

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.

Appeal Court extends doctors pay-hike talks by 5 days; allows Inter-Religious Council to join mediation team; report to be filed Tuesday pic.twitter.com/TU1WHeUU1f

— Mac Otani (@MacOtani) March 2, 2017

Kenyan doctors have been on strike since early December 2016. They want the government to implement a deal agreed in 2013 to raise basic salaries by 150 to 180 percent, review working conditions, job structures and criteria for promotions, and address under-staffing in public hospitals.