The nationwide healthcare workers strike which was to start today has been called off by their respective unions.
According to the Secretary General of the Kenya National Union of Nurses,Mr Seth Panyako, the strike was called off to allow more time for negotiations with both the national and county governments.
Panyako said that the four unions representing healthcare workers in the country had agreed to give the government 21 more days to address their grievances.
He said that should the government fail to meet their demands after 21 days then they will have no option than to proceed with the strike.
The unions had threatened that their members would down their tools today in protest of poor working conditions within health facilities.
They are demanding harmonized welfare packages awarded to healthcare workers by the ministry of health.
The unions have rejected the formula used by the ministry which saw Doctors receive a hefty package as compared to other cadres of healthcare workers.
Healthcare workers also want improved working conditions including provision of protective gear to those dealing directly with patients.
They also want enhanced risk allowances especially at this time when the country is grappling with the COVID-19 pandemic.
The ministry of health and the council of governors have been holding talks with the unions representing healthcare workers to avert a possible paralysis of service delivery which would lead to another crisis.