The Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) has called for a truce between the government and the striking medics to assuage patients suffering.
KCCB Chairman Archbishop Martin Kivuva said the ongoing strike has left thousands of patients suffering in public hospitals, while the government and the doctors engage in hard stances.
Kivuva said a truce between the two parties would be the best solution to the problem. He urged the two parties to embrace dialogue and soften their hard stances.
“I appeal to our doctors not to forsake patients they left in hospitals. We should continue to patients and remaining medics who are on duty,” stated Kivuva during the marking of Palm Sunday in Mombasa at the Our Lady of Africa Tudor Pastoral Centre, where he joined thousands of Catholic Church congregants
The sentiments come in the wake of a strike that has paralyzed health services in public hospitals after doctors laid down their tools demanding better working conditions, implementation of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), posting of medical interns and medical cover.
Patients are now forced to dig deeper and seek treatment in private hospital facilities.
Kivuva further cautioned road users to observe safety on the road following the rise of road carnages leading to lots of lives.
According to data from the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) fatalities resulting from road accidents in the country have risen by 7 per cent with 1,026 people killed in road accidents across the country from January to March 20, 2024.
During a similar period last year 2023, the fatalities were 959. NTSA data shows 384 pedestrians, 77 drivers, 225 passengers, 16 pedal cyclists, 242 motorcyclists, and 82 passengers lost their lives in road accidents between January 1 and March 20, 2023.
NTSA attributes the deaths to a breach of road safety regulations, to curb the road accidents Cabinet Secretary (CS) Kipchumba Murkomen among other measures directed road agencies to ensure cameras are installed at all black spots.
By Sadik Hassan
