Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has ordered all doctors working for the Nairobi City County Government to resume work in their respective stations within 12 hours.
Sakaja gave the directive on March 20, 2024, after convening a meeting with the Nairobi City County Health Sector Leadership.
The meeting was aimed at discussing the ongoing nationwide strike which was called by the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU).
In the meeting he called on all County medics to report back to work with immediate effect.
“I therefore direct that all doctors working for Nairobi City County Government to resume work in their respective duty stations within 12 hours, failing which disciplinary action will be commenced,” said Sakaja.
Sakaja issues warning
According to the governor, any doctor who does not resume work within the stipulated period pursuant to this directive shall been deemed to have absconded duty and necessary disciplinary action will be taken.
This comes after the countrywide doctors’ strike that was called on by KMPDU entered its sixth day.
Doctors at the Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral, and Research Hospital (KUTRRH) and the Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) joined the nationwide strike on March 20.
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KMPDU Secretary General Dr. Davji Atella while speaking to the press noted that they would not call off the strike until their issues are addressed.
The union said that the strike in the two Nairobi referral hospitals is meant to address issues raised that include alleged discriminatory employment practices.
Davji further added that the industrial action by the doctors will extend to the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) in Uasin Gishu County on Thursday.
“In the morning, we managed to close the emergency services of the Kenyatta National Hospital and we are here with all the doctors at KUTRRH to also close the services. Even the bare minimum services that were being offered are now closed and this will continue until KUTRRH stops the casualization of doctors,” he said.
Doctors strike
The health workers started the boycott on March 14 while accusing the government of failing to address their concerns which included a demand to post 4,000 interns to medical facilities.
On her part, Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha on March 19, 2024, said that the government was working to address the doctors’ demands.
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“I applaud our doctors and all health care workers who have continued to deliver services to the people as the Ministry of Health and the relevant stakeholders work together to address the issues raised by their union,” Nakhumicha said in a statement.
She further urged citizens to continue seeking treatment in public facilities, assuring them that healthcare workers would be available and ready to serve them.
The health sector has suffered a blow after two meetings that have been held between KMPDU officials and the government failed to yield the desired results, dashing hopes of resolving the crisis that has left thousands of patients stranded across the country.
On its part, the Ministry of Health has however maintained that one of the meeting’s outcomes of posting interns will go on, despite the KMPDU’s objection especially on their remuneration.
Both parties to this dispute are set to have another chance at the negotiation table during a scheduled meeting on March 21, 2024.
The meeting has been convened by the Head of Public Service Felix Kosgei and enforced by the courts.
