Over a strike action embarked upon by medical doctors in Kenya, after the government failed to implement a 2013 agreement signed with the Kenya Medical Practitioners’ Union, which included a pay rise of 180%, the doctors have agreed to end the strike following mediation by religious leaders.

According to Ceoafrica, the doctors’ unions and the government are due to sign a deal after seven days of negotiations led by the Religious Council of Kenya.

The council intervened after doctors' leaders were jailed for refusing to comply with a court order to negotiate; the court agreed to calls for an out-of-court settlement and they were freed on condition a deal was reached, today.

Medical staff began their strike in December after the government failed to implement a 2013 agreement signed with the Kenya Medical Practitioners' Union, which included a pay rise of around 180%.

The religious leaders led negotiations for seven days and both parties presented the new deal to court in the morning.

Although, doctors have now agreed to accept a lower salary offer, but details have not been made public.

They have also dropped demands for improvements to medical facilities after a government assurance that this was a long-term goal.

The government has agreed to pay the striking doctors their salaries and allowances for the last three months which the Doctors see as victory – and say they will return to work as soon as the agreement is signed.

President Uhuru Kenyatta has said they should return to work immediately.