Court order fails to stop doctors’ strike

Empty hospital beds at the Rift Valley Provincial General hospital after patients were transferred to private hospitals. PHOTO | CHEBET CAROLINE

What you need to know:

  • On Wednesday, Health Cabinet Secretary James Macharia sought a court order to end the strike he called unconstitutional and contrary to the Labour Relations Act. The latter prohibits essential services staff from taking part in industrial action.
  • Angry governors Thursday took the war over devolution of health services to the Jamhuri Day celebrations, where they warned striking doctors and nurses to return to work or be sacked.

The doctors’ strike entered its third day as medics defied a court ruling ordering them back to work.

At the main Nairobi County hospitals, Mbagathi, Pumwani Maternity and Mama Lucy Kibaki, services ground to a halt as doctors and nurses continued to protest devolution of health services, which would have their salaries managed by the governors.

All patients turned away at the county hospitals were taken to the city’s referral hospital, Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) where doctors and nurses on leave were recalled and others offered to work overtime to help deal with congestion.

INDUSTRIAL ACTION

On Wednesday, Health Cabinet Secretary James Macharia sought a court order to end the strike he called unconstitutional and contrary to the Labour Relations Act. The latter prohibits essential services staff from taking part in industrial action.

Justice David Majanja allowed the application thus rendering the strike that has paralysed health services countrywide illegal.

But Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Association secretary-general Sultan Matendechero said no trade union representing the health workers had received a court order and termed it “rumours” meant to weaken the strike.

“The government has invested in fear, intimidation and sideshows instead of resolving this crisis so that we can resume work,” Dr Matendechero said in an interview with the Nation Thursday.

The longer we stay on strike, the harder it will be to get out of it, he warned.

Thursday, a spot check by the Nation indicated that at Pumwani Hospital, only Nairobi County doctors and nurses were on duty, with all medical emergencies being referred to Kenyatta hospital.

Angry governors Thursday took the war over devolution of health services to the Jamhuri Day celebrations, where they warned striking doctors and nurses to return to work or be sacked.

Vihiga governor Moses Akaranga, Sospeter Ojaamong (Busia) and Isaac Ruto of Bomet declared that the striking workers will be replaced if they don’t resume duty by Tuesday.

HIRE TEMPORARY WORKERS

Already, Mr Ruto has ordered Bomet doctors, who have downed tools to oppose devolution of health services to vacate hospital houses.

In Mombasa, a ray of hope was in sight for patients after efforts to hire temporary health workers to avert the paralysis in hospitals began to bear fruits yesterday.

Mombasa County, interim chief officer Esther Gitambo said interested applicants were streaming into their offices and 20 clinical officers and nurses as well as a doctor had been posted to Coast General and Port Reiz District hospitals.

In, Lamu, governor Issa Timamy yesterday visited striking doctors at the Lamu District Hospital and appealed to them to attend to patients.

Private hospitals in central Kenya recorded an influx of patients. Consolata Hospital Mathari nursing officer in charge Jeremiah Mutari said the mission hospital has been receiving a big number of patients as medical services in the region’s public hospitals remained paralysed.

In Meru, the medics urged the government to end the stalemate.

In Uasin Gishu County, Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN) branch secretary John Bii said they were yet to be served with a court order.

In Nakuru, residents benefited from the county government-managed dispensary and maternity services during the three-day strike with a pledge to enhance its capacity through a Sh3 billion vote.

Maternity services went on at Free Area, Industrial Area, Langa Langa, Mithonge and Eddie Long (Bondeni) dispensaries.

By John Njagi, Joy Wanja Muraya, Moses Odhiambo, Magdalene Wanja, James Kariuki, Kalume Kazungu, Stellar Murumba, Mercy Tumkou, Linet Wafula, Evalyne Githinji and Dennis Lubanga