The Secretary general of the Kenya Medical Practitioners Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) Davji Atella has been shot by police officers during a protest in Nairobi.
In a statement on Thursday, February 29, KMPDU said the SG was participating in the intern’s march against delayed posting when the incident happened.
“We condemn in the strongest terms the shooting of our SG Davji by the police this afternoon when he was leading the Medical interns in peaceful March.
“The doctors of Kenya have endured enough! This is the straw that breaks the camel’s back, ” the statement read in part.
Medical Interns Protests in CBD
Post-medical interns staged peaceful demonstration over the failure of the Ministry of Health to post them to various hospitals and facilities.
On Thursday 29 February doctors led by KMPDU Secretary General Davji Atella carried placards, chanting in unison while others blew whistles along the Nairobi streets.
“Comrade power! Comrades… lets Pray, God give wisdom to the leadership of this country… as we match to the relevant authorities. May we find the letters ready to collect, let us not hear stories,” one comrade stated.
“We stand in Solidarity as the medical fraternity and patriotic Kenyans, to defy all plans by the government to jeopardize the health care system of our country by hesitating to equip it with the very necessary manpower.”
Also Read: Nakhumicha Moves to Avert Crisis Over Interns Posting
The protests started from Upper Hill and proceeded to Afya House demanding audience with the Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha.
Medical practitioners’ issues alert
Before holding demonstrations, the doctors had issued a deadline on the posting of medicals interns. The demand was accompanied with a grievance to employ doctors who have been working on contracts.
They also added that the medical graduates could not be employed without attending internship program which is a mandatory requirement.
“Hello comrades, last week we agreed that if we do not receive our posting letters by Wednesday, February 28th, we would collect them from MoH at Afya House. The same applies to the payment of Med school fees.
“Join us on Thursday, 29th of February 2024, at 8 am at the KMA Auditorium. We will proceed with a peaceful procession to MoH to collect the letters and then finally to the Treasury,” Davji Attellah earlier stated.
According to KMPDU, 1,215 medical interns are awaiting posting with some having waited for either six months or one year.
Also Read: Doctors Issue Demands After Body of Intern is Found in Hospital Trenches
The protest comes few days after Ministry of Health cabinet secretary Nakhumicha Wafula held a consultative meeting sought to iron out sticky issues with healthcare unions regarding medical interns posting.