Kenya doctors end 100-day strike after deal with government

Kenyan doctors on Tuesday reached an agreement with the government to end the medics’ 100-day strike.

The agreement grants doctors increased allowances, outlines a promotion plan and protects doctors who went on strike from retribution. County governments will recognise the union and conclude local agreements within 60 days.

“This bring to an end one of the most painful of experiences in labour relations in the country,” said Peter Munya, governor of Meru county and chairman of the Council of Governors.

“We wish that this country shall never experience this again,” said Ouma Oluga, the secretary general of the Kenya Medical Practitioners Pharmacists and Dentists’ Union, which has around 5,000 members in state hospitals.

The doctors went on strike on Dec. 5, demanding authorities implement a 2013 agreement to give them a 150 to 180 percent pay rise. Last week, they rejected an offer of a pay rise of 50 percent .

The protests upset the government of President Uhuru Kenyatta, who is seeking reelection when Kenya holds parliamentary and presidential elections in August.