Economy

Doctors' deal awaits greenlight from County chiefs

Njue

Catholic Church head John Cardinal Njue: he said he was “hopeful that the talks will come up with something”. PHOTO | FILE

Religious leaders-led talks aimed at resolving the doctors strike stalemate have finally resulted in an agreement with the government, the court of Appeal has heard.

The Inter-religious Council of Kenya told Court of appeal judges Hannah Okwengu, Martha Koome and Kantai Ole Sankale that their two-day talks had seen an agreement reached.

Through lawyer Peter Gachohi, the court heard that what is remaining is the signing of three key documents to fully settle the matter.

He explained that as far as they are concerned the talks have yielded fruits and that the government was also able to shift from its firm stand.

However, the Council of Governors and Health Cabinet Secretary differed on which of the three documents which include return-to-work formula, recognition document and the one for the Collective Bargaining Agreement, should come first in signing.

Sign documents

But the judges ruled that since an agreement had been reached on the disputed CBA, the governors should take up the matter of signing the relevant documents.

They directed that the case be mentioned on Monday for the purpose of having it on record that the dispute is settled.

The agreement follows a series of closed-door meetings over the weekend that ran until Monday evening, when the doctors’ union officials met with religious leaders.

Present from the Inter-religious Council of Kenya were Catholic Church head John Cardinal Njue, ACK Archbishop Jackson ole Sapit, Sheikh Adan Wachu and Lodwar Catholic Bishop Dominic Kimengich.

As he left the venue of the meeting at around 3 p.m. on Monday, Cardinal Njue said he was “hopeful that the talks will come up with something”.

The words were echoed by Bishop Kimengich, who added that they were “seeking divine intervention to get to a solution”.

The court gave the parties two days to agree after mediation talks led by the Law Society of Kenya and the Kenya National Commission for Human Rights failed to break the stalemate.