County governments have started firing striking doctors after they defied orders to resume work.
Earlier, Kirinyaga Governor Anne, Waiguru affirmed that various devolved units would take necessary action to deal with the issue that has paralyzed the healthcare sector.
“The counties have agreed unanimously to undertake whatever necessary action that is required to stop the sufferings of Kenyans,” Waiguru said.
The Ministry of Labour directed the governments and Kenya Medical Practitioners Pharmacists and Dentist Union (KMPDU) to come up with a solution following their talks.
Following the KMPDU’s reluctance to end the strike, the counties started issuing dismissal letters.
KMPDU Deputy Secretary General Dennis Miskellah was not spared either as he narrated what unfolded leading to his dismissal.
“Counties have issued threats and personally, I’ve been a victim. My salary was chopped almost nineteen months ago, and when we met the county initially, they said they will reinstate it, but they sent me a dismissal letter instead, simply because of the current strike,” Miskellah remarked.
Also Read: New Twist as Doctors Counter Nakhumicha and Waiguru Over strike
Doctors Standoff
The talks between the government and KMPDU bore no fruits with both sides maintaining hardline positions.
However, KMPDU remained adamant and emphasized that the strike is an action of all doctors countrywide.
“If any doctor is dismissed in Mandera, we don’t expect doctors in Migori or KNH to be at work, it is not a fragmented action, it is an action of all doctors across the country,” said KMPDU Secretary General (SG) Davji Atellah.
In Trans Nzoia County, Governor George Natembeya said he would hire doctors from Uganda to mitigate the situation.
The Union has maintained that it is their right to protect the vulnerable and will not agree to the 91% pay cut for medical interns and says that it cannot deliberate on the matter and that it is still in court.
Medics have said they will not end the strike until that pertinent issue is resolved.
Also Read: Nakhumicha Reveals Date Govt will Strike Deal to End Doctors Strike
Government Stance
Public Service Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria threatened not to pay the striking doctors, accusing them of dishonesty.
Health CS Susan Nakhumicha during a press briefing clarified that the government had disbursed Ksh6.1 billion to doctors.
She emphasized that unresolved issues were not due to government incapacity but rather stemmed from ongoing legal proceedings.
The doctor’s strike began after the two sides failed to reach an agreement with the government on Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) of 2017.
KMPDU boss acknowledged that the government had met 18 out of their 19 demands with the exception of internship.
“Dear Government, the doctors are saying that since you have publicly said that you conceded to 18 of our 19 demands (except internship), kindly take back the 18 and give us the 1. As a community, we are not used to abandoning the most vulnerable, and to us, interns are currently very vulnerable,” said Dr. Atellah.
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