Nairobi doctors defy Kidero, dare him to sack them
Nairobi County Governor Evans Kidero during the launch of ‘The City’s Report on the State of Urban Security' on September 6, 2016. PHOTO | SALATON NJAU | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentist Union Nairobi branch chairman Thuranira Kaugiria said union members are used to the empty threats by the county government and will not be cowed into resuming work.
- Dr Muia said county officials had already given county hospital superintendents letters for all the 124 doctors on strike and they have a week to respond and explain why they should not be sacked.
Striking doctors have dared Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero to make good on his threat to sack them on Friday as he has warned, saying they are not fighting with the county but the national government.
The doctors have also refused to pick up their warning letters, calling them "love letters".
Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentist Union Nairobi branch chairman Thuranira Kaugiria said union members are used to the empty threats by the county government and will not be cowed into resuming work.
“Let Governor Kidero take those letters — we call them love letters — to the doctors in their homes as the doctors are not near the hospitals or City Hall to pick them,” said Dr Thuranira.
Dr Thuranira added that they are not worried about not receiving their December pay, saying they are sure they will be paid once their demands are implemented.
He said doctors are focusing on the implementation of the 2013 collective bargaining agreement (CBA).
“We are in this together as our eyes are set on the price being the CBA…when Kenyans fought for independence they endured more pain than just missing salary,” said Dr Thuranira.
County executive for health Bernard Muia reiterated Dr Kidero’s threat to sack the doctors, saying the implementation of the directive was on course.
Dr Muia said county officials had already given county hospital superintendents letters for all the 124 doctors on strike and they have a week to respond and explain why they should not be sacked.
“All our medical superintendents have the respective letters for doctors to show cause why we should not sack them [and] failure to respond in the next one week, they will face disciplinary action,” said Dr Muia.
He added that the county had already drafted an advertisement for 46 medical doctors in the first phase of rehiring and will later advertise for pharmacist and dentist positions.
He said the county had received more than 900 applications for the positions.
On Tuesday, Dr Kidero said doctors who fail to resume work by the end of the week will be dismissed and their jobs advertised.
Following Dr Kidero's order, the doctors were not paid their December salaries.
