Medical unions in Machakos County have suspended a strike that was scheduled to start on Monday, July 17, 2023. The strike was called by the Kenya Medical Practitioners Pharmacists Dentists Union (KMPDU) and Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN) over a number of grievances, including the promotion of health workers.
After a meeting with the county leadership, the unions agreed to suspend the strike for seven days. During this time, the county government will promote a total of 422 health workers. The unions have also agreed to consider the promotion of another 421 and 600 health workers once the initial 422 promotions have been completed.
The unions said that they would resume the strike if the county government does not fulfill its obligations by Friday, July 21, 2023.
The suspension of the strike is a welcome relief for the people of Machakos County, who rely on the county’s health services. The unions have said that they will continue to engage with the county government in order to resolve the outstanding issues.