NAIROBI - Kenyan doctors have called off a week-long strike demanding better pay after the country's leaders pleaded with them to end the industrial action that left many patients unattended.
Some 2300 members of the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Union stopped work after the government said it could not meet their demands for a 300% pay rise.
The doctors at state hospitals say their terms haven't been looked at for more than a decade.
"We have called off the strike so that top union officials can negotiate with the government.
"I have made an appeal to the striking doctors to go back to work after the government assured us there will be no victimisation," Boniface Chitayi, the union's general secretary, said.
"We intend to start fresh negotiations with the government (today)."
The doctors, who say they earn an average of 35000 shillings (R3225) a month, are the latest public sector workers to demand higher pay as living costs soar.
Inflation jumped to almost 20% in November, up for the 13th straight month.
During Independence Day celebrations on Monday, President Mwai Kibaki urged the doctors to resume work and directed his minister of public service to conclude talks.
Frustration has been mounting at the high cost of food and fuel, in particular in the east African nation, which holds a general election next year, compounded by a collapse in the value of the local currency against the strong dollar.
Demands for higher pay by workers coupled with increased spending in the run-up to the election have stoked concerns of a second round of inflationary pressures.
Kenya doctors call off week-long strike
NAIROBI - Kenyan doctors have called off a week-long strike demanding better pay after the country's leaders pleaded with them to end the industrial action that left many patients unattended.
Some 2300 members of the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Union stopped work after the government said it could not meet their demands for a 300% pay rise.
The doctors at state hospitals say their terms haven't been looked at for more than a decade.
"We have called off the strike so that top union officials can negotiate with the government.
"I have made an appeal to the striking doctors to go back to work after the government assured us there will be no victimisation," Boniface Chitayi, the union's general secretary, said.
"We intend to start fresh negotiations with the government (today)."
The doctors, who say they earn an average of 35000 shillings (R3225) a month, are the latest public sector workers to demand higher pay as living costs soar.
Inflation jumped to almost 20% in November, up for the 13th straight month.
During Independence Day celebrations on Monday, President Mwai Kibaki urged the doctors to resume work and directed his minister of public service to conclude talks.
Frustration has been mounting at the high cost of food and fuel, in particular in the east African nation, which holds a general election next year, compounded by a collapse in the value of the local currency against the strong dollar.
Demands for higher pay by workers coupled with increased spending in the run-up to the election have stoked concerns of a second round of inflationary pressures.
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