Some residents within the Nyanza region have termed the calling off of the 56-day doctors' nationwide strike a big relief.
The strike was called off after the government and KMPDU officials signed a return-to-work formula on Wednesday.
The residents said patients had borne the brunt of the industrial action that had taken over one month as doctors stayed away from health facilities.
Residents who spoke to the Star noted that finally, the suffering of patients will come to an end.
Joseph Oloo said, "We thank God doctors are now returning to hospitals, it has been hell without them, we plead with them not to subject us to this suffering next time."
Oloo noted that it was great that both levels of government and the doctors had reached an agreement.
"I hope their agreement will be honoured because we don't want to be subjected to such again."
For Olivia Odhiambo, because there have been so many patients suffering, this is a huge relief.
"I however think in future both doctors and government should not joke with the lives of Kenyans like this. We have lost people. In future they must find ways to handle such matters as they prioritise the lives of Kenyans," Odhiambo said.
Mary Oluoch noted that the untold suffering most families who can't access private hospitals have been experiencing is too much.
Oluoch said that on most occasions they had to depend on drugs bought off-the-counter which is risky.
"Once in a while when medical camps are organised by our leaders we throng there to get treated," she said.
She added that it was unfortunate that some people in need of surgeries were turned away from public health.
"We have even seen people detained in private health facilities due to accruing medical bills," she said.
Speaking after signing the return-to-work agreement on Wednesday evening, KMPDU Secretary General Davji Atellah confirmed that the strike is indeed called off.
"We had a long meeting today with the National Advisory Council which is the highest decision-making organ and they endorsed that we sign this return-to-work formula today so that it can pave the way for doctors to return to work within 24 hours from now," he said.
"That means the strike that began on March 13, has been called off."
Doctors had listed a total of 19 issues they wanted resolved, top among them the posting of medical interns on a Sh206,000 monthly salary.
Of the 19 issues doctors raised, six relate to counties, nine to the national government, and four to both levels of government.
The government had offered a Sh70,000 monthly stipend which they have rejected.
The government had tabled a fresh Sh6.1 billion offer to address doctors' demands even as the striking medics insisted on 'no deal' until the contentious issue - posting of interns - is cleared.
