Governors dismiss Uhuru Kenyatta order to pay doctors

Governors say talks are under way on whether or not to pay doctors for the three months they were on strike.

Council of Governors vice-chairman John Mruttu on Friday said they were yet to decide whether the medics deserve to be paid.

TALKS

“We are still negotiating, so right now I cannot state our stand ... We will give our resolutions when we conclude our talks,” he said.

However, Mr Mruttu, the Taita-Taveta governor, was categorical that it would be illegal to pay the doctors who did not work.

He said the law states clearly that an employee is not supposed to be paid for boycotting work.

“Employees get paid for days they have worked,” he said.

“We are, however, looking into the Return-to-Work Formula, which the doctors signed, and see whether there are ways we can create goodwill with governors to agree to pay the doctors.” 

DICTATE

President Kenyatta on Thursday ordered governors to pay the medics after they threatened to resume their job boycott.

But Mr Mruttu said county governments would not follow the President’s directive to governors

He said Mr Kenyatta cannot dictate to county governments what to do for their employees.

“The national government has its doctors. If they want to pay them let them go ahead,” he said.

“For us we will state our decision once we are done with negotiations.”

3,000

Governor Mruttu spoke during the opening of Mwangea dispensary on the outskirts of Voi.

Addressing residents, Mr Mruttu said his government is committed to ensuring that locals access medical services with ease.

“We will continue to ensure that we improve health services by making them better and accessible,” he added.

The dispensary will serve up to 3,000 Mabomani residents who rely on Moi Hospital for treatment.