The government should honour the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) it signed with the doctors to facilitate their return to work, a Catholic Bishop has said.

Bishop Dominic Kimengich of Eldoret Diocese expressed deep concern over the sufferings ordinary citizens seeking critical services in public health facilities were going through due to the doctor’s strike.

“The government should respect the agreement it signed with the medical doctors and clinicians to salvage the deteriorating provision of healthcare services in our hospitals across the country,” he said.

The cleric was speaking yesterday at the Catholic University of East Africa Eldoret campus during a meeting with the student leaders and teaching staff.

He asked the striking medical doctors to be considerate of the country’s economic situation even as they pressure the national government to address their issues.

“The economic situation in our country is not yet out of the woods, our medics should be cognisant of the matter as they push the government to implement a deal signed between the two parties some years back,” said Bishop Kimengich.

Prolonged suffering

 He criticised both parties for refusing to soften their stands on the matter, saying that was the main cause of prolonged suffering by ordinary people seeking medical attention in hospitals.

“I appeal to the medics and the government representatives to give dialogue a chance in resolving the thorny issue of CBA to avoid more loss of innocent lives as a result of the unrest by medical doctors and clinicians over the government’s refusal to implement the CBA that was signed 17,” said Bishop Kimengich.

Key services in various public hospitals have been paralyzed as the doctors’ strike enters the fourth week with scores of patients being left stranded.

The situation is getting worse as the government through the ministry of health admitted before the National Assembly that it does not have the funds to meet doctor’s demands.

The doctors who have met under the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentist Union (KMPDU) have maintained that it will not call off the industrial action until their government implements the CBA.

At the same time, the Bishop has castigated the government for failing to rein in on perpetrators of the subsidised fertiliser programme.

He regretted that since the matter was brought to the attention of the governments by the affected farmers, those behind the distribution of fake farm input are still walking free in the street.

“It is a pity to note that no culprit has so far been arrested and taken to court in connection with the distribution of fake fertiliser despite the fact that the government has agencies tasked to do the job,” he said.