The Council of Governors on Tuesday, April 16, 2024 detailed critical issues affecting their administrations key of which is the ongoing health crisis occasioned by the nationwide doctors' strike.

In a statement, the county chiefs also underscored the success realised in the health sector since the establishment of the devolved units. Reduced infant mortality and higher vaccination rates are some of the success stories.

Led by Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru, the governors weighed the demands made by striking medics, calling upon the unions and the national government to expedite negotiations for the sake of suffering patients countrywide.

According to CoG, Senior Medical Doctors are paid 103 per cent higher which is double the amount that is paid to non-health workers in the public service and other doctors in the Private sector.

Currently, a County Senior Medical Officer is paid Ksh479,000 which comprises; Basic salary - Ksh203, 000, Emergency call allowance - Ksh80,000, House Allowance  - Ksh56,000,  Commuter allowance - Ksh20,000, and Non-practice allowance — Ksh60,000,  Extraneous allowance - Ksh40,000, and Risk allowance — Ksh20,000.

The governors further noted that should the national government cave to demands by the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU), there would be a reactive ripple effect across other civil servants' pay slips. This would require additional funding to all counties from the national government.

The governors called upon medics to return to their work stations as all involved stakeholders negotiate for a better working arrangement for all.

"As duty bearers, we cannot afford to remain silent as Kenyans continue to suffer and in other unfortunate cases, death, due to an unprotected strike and that the doctors have not complied with the Court Directive.

"The Constitution defines doctors as essential workers and therefore they are not expected to abandon their stations of duty," the statement read in part.

CoG further revealed that there are currently 890 doctors, pharmacists, and dentists who have been released by various counties and are currently on post graduate training. Additionally, Counties have also continued to pay their salaries during their training period.

"This situation deprives Counties of substantial amount of resources which could otherwise be used to recruit more doctors to handle patients while the rest are on post graduate training.

"To this effect, County Governments will undertake the costing of Doctors on post graduate studies for purposes of allocation of the resources for recruitment to fill the gaps and offer services during this training period," the county bosses argued.

CoG vowed action against striking doctors pending a court hearing on Wednesday, April 17. The doctors had failed to honor a prior court order requiring them to remain in their duty stations as the unions and both governments deliberate on their grievances.