Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU) Secretary-General Francis Atwoli has called on President Uhuru Kenyatta, Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe and his Labour counterpart Simon Chelugui to take over negotiations with striking health workers.
Addressing the press in Nakuru, Atwoli said that the country was staring at great risk should the matter be left in the hands of the Council of Governors (CoG), which has adopted a hard stance.
He lashed out at CoG, led by Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya, over their move to disown an agreement between striking medics and the Ministry of Health terming.
The trade unionist said governors who fired striking doctors contravened national and international labour laws.
Atwoli said the Health ministry should make a special request to the National Treasury for more funds to address the public health crisis.
The Cotu boss said governors can no longer be trusted with handling labour issues in critical sectors and endorsed the formation of BBI-proposed Health Service Commission.
He warned that the reckless disregard of labour laws will plunge the country into a crisis.
Atwoli said the National Assembly should enact laws to centralize negotiations on labour issues.
