The planned strike in Machakos County by medical unions, scheduled to commence on Monday, July 17, 2023, has been put on hold. The Kenya Medical Practitioners Pharmacists Dentists Union (KMPDU) and the Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN) had called for the strike due to various concerns, including the promotion of healthcare workers.
Following a meeting with the county leadership, the unions have agreed to temporarily suspend the strike for a period of seven days. During this duration, the county government will carry out promotions for a total of 422 health workers. Additionally, the unions have expressed willingness to discuss the promotion of an additional 421 and 600 health workers after the initial 422 promotions are completed.
The unions have made it clear that if the county government fails to fulfill its obligations by Friday, July 21, 2023, they will resume the strike.
The suspension of the strike is a positive development for the residents of Machakos County, who heavily rely on the county's healthcare services. The unions have stated their commitment to ongoing engagement with the county government in order to resolve the remaining issues.
