Press Release by Religious Leaders on the Health Crisis in Kenya

leaders

^{Leaders from across the faiths pose for a group photo after a strategy meeting on the state of the nation ahead of the 2017 general election.}

We the faith leaders of Kenya commend the ruling by the Court of Appeal that the seven officials of the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Union be released from prison to facilitate mediation to resolve the doctors’ strike.
The agreement by the various parties involved in this long-protracted dispute to give mediation a chance is highly commendable. This is what should have happened a long time ago. We assure the Law Society of Kenya and the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights of our prayers and support as they mediate between the doctors and the key stakeholders. In addition, we reiterate that faith leaders are available and would be pleased to serve as observers during the mediation process.
We recognize that the current crisis is not merely about the salaries paid to the doctors, but a drive to address the maladies that afflict the national health sector. These are institutional issues that must be addressed in a scope that goes beyond a Collective Bargain Agreement between doctors and their employers and is of utmost importance to all Kenyans.
It is therefore imperative that the mediation panel as set up by the Court of Appeal urgently facilitates the formulation of a return to work formula that establishes a framework for resolution of both the immediate and the wider health sector challenges within the shortest time possible. The suffering and death of Kenyans must be stopped. Both the National and County governments must express commitment to comply with the Article 43(1)(a) of the Constitution of Kenya 2010 which states “every person has the right to the highest attainable standards of health, which includes the right to health care services”.
On our part, we remain strongly committed to provision of health care to Kenyans. To the best of our abilities, we will keep our health facilities open despite the extreme strain that is being exerted by the current crisis, and hope that all facilities can begin operating normally soon.
Thank you.