Naema Tandao 
JOY SITATI
From the parking lot, to the waiting bay, the emptiness tells the picture of the impact of the ongoing doctors strike at least here in Bungoma county. For the fifth day running, doctors have kept away from hospitals as they made good the threat to down their tools demanding that the government address their issues as contained in the collective bargaining agreement signed between the doctors and the govt in 2017.
The ministry of health has in the midst of the strike extended an olive branch to inform the doctors of a meeting scheduled for today.
The doctors say they will honor the meeting by the agenda at least on their part will not be mediation.
The doctors insist that they will accept nothing less than the immediate commencement of the posting of interns to health facilities, saying the interns should not only be posted but be well compensated for their labor.
The doctors went on strike on Thursday Last week demanding that the government posts medical interns, remits payments for doctors taking postgraduate studies, pay the doctors incremental arrears, dating back to 2017 and implement the 2017 CBA.
The doctors have maintained that their industrial action will continue even as the talks kick off today and have threatened to withdraw even the bare essential services that are currently being offered if the government does not heed and agree to their demands.
The tough stand came as the chairman of the health committee of the Council of Governors called on the national government to act speedily to end the standoff.
