KMA president Ibrahim Matende during a past event/COURTESYThe Kenya Medical Association (KMA) has called for the immediate establishment of national and county Works Councils to help prevent recurring strikes by health workers and strengthen dialogue between the government and medical professionals.
In a position statement issued Thursday, KMA said the ongoing industrial action in the public health sector was putting patients at risk and disproportionately affecting vulnerable Kenyans.
The association said while health workers have a constitutional right to fair labour practices and collective bargaining, Kenyans are equally entitled to the highest attainable standard of health.
“Protecting both rights requires effective and accountable labour relations,” KMA president Ibrahim Matende said.
The association attributed repeated strikes in the health sector to what it described as systemic governance failures, including delays in implementing negotiated agreements, inconsistent engagement with health workers and weak mechanisms for resolving disputes.
“Recurring strikes are evidence of systemic governance failures,” Matende said, warning that the pattern of industrial unrest was not sustainable.
KMA said both the national and county governments, as employers, have an obligation to establish labour relations systems that promote continuous engagement, timely implementation of agreements and early resolution of disputes.
The doctors’ body proposed that Works Councils be operationalised at both county and national levels as structured platforms bringing together employers, health worker unions, professional associations and government agencies.
According to KMA, the councils would provide a mechanism for consultation, monitor implementation of agreements, identify emerging workforce challenges and resolve disputes before they escalate into strikes.
The association also urged the Ministry of Health, the Council of Governors and the Kenya Health Human Resource Advisory Council (KHHRAC) to provide technical leadership in strengthening labour relations.
It said the institutions should develop standardised operational frameworks for Works Councils, build institutional capacity and facilitate dialogue among the parties.
KMA further called for the immediate convening of national and county Works Councils to address the current dispute and establish a structured programme of continuous engagement.
It wants the implementation status of all existing collective bargaining agreements and negotiated commitments published to improve transparency and accountability.
The association also proposed the establishment of a joint implementation committee comprising the government, health worker unions, professional associations, KHHRAC and other stakeholders to monitor commitments and resolve emerging disputes.
KMA said negotiated agreements must be implemented within agreed timelines, with stronger accountability mechanisms introduced to prevent disputes from recurring.
It also called for the protection of emergency and life-saving health services throughout industrial disputes while negotiations continue.
“The current nurses strike should mark a turning point in reforming labour relations within Kenya's health sector,” the association said.
Matende said sustainable industrial harmony would not be achieved through repeated crisis negotiations, but through strong institutions, predictable dialogue and mutual accountability.
“Sustainable industrial harmony will not be achieved through repeated crisis negotiations, but through strong institutions, predictable dialogue, mutual accountability, and respect for negotiated commitments,” KMA said.
The association said it remained committed to working with the Ministry of Health, county governments, KHHRAC, health worker unions and professional associations to build a resilient health system.
“Kenya cannot afford to lose the gains made towards Universal Health Coverage through preventable failures in labour relations,” KMA said.
“The time to institutionalise meaningful social dialogue is now.”
