This development spells more distress for the public, who have been grappling with the scarcity of healthcare services in public hospitals for over a month now. The deadlock persists over salary disputes and the government's failure to recruit trainee doctors.

A key meeting scheduled for Tuesday, which was to be attended by KMPDU officials and chaired by the Head of the Public Service, Felix Koskei, did not take place as the union officials were absent.

This has exacerbated the situation, following several days of intense negotiations.

In a statement after a cabinet meeting led by President William Ruto, the government announced that it had addressed all of the doctors' concerns, with the exception of the salary for intern doctors.

The government maintains that the union's demand for a $1500 monthly salary for intern doctors is untenable, offering a $520 stipend instead.

The KMPDU has firmly rejected this proposal, emphasising that the issue of fair compensation for intern doctors remains a sticking point and is critical to any agreement.

--Reuters/ChannelAfrica--