Finance Bill protests: KMPDU warns of shutdown over doctor Austin Omondi's kidnapping

The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists, and Dentists Union (KMPDU) has warned that it will shut down all public and private medical services in the push to find abducted doctor Austin Omondi.

Witnesses said that Omondi, known on X (formerly Twitter) as JaPrado, was taken on Sunday along Forest Road while overseeing a blood donation drive at Sikh Union Club Chandaria, part of the help offered to protesters under the 'Medics for Kenya' initiative.

In a statement on Sunday, when the union and the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) accompanied Omondi's family to file a missing person's report at the Parklands Police Station, KMPDU Secretary General Davji Atellah condemned the kidnapping, noting that the doctor was only abiding by his oath.

The LSK and the KMPDU accompany the family of the abducted Dr. Austin Omondi in filing an abduction case at Parklands Police Stations, Nairobi; Dr. Austin was abducted today morning while at work at Sikh Union Club, Forest Road pic.twitter.com/DLrEZPkwSY

— The Eastleigh Voice (@Eastleighvoice) June 23, 2024

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• Finance Bill protests: KMPDU warns of shutdown over doctor Austin Omondi's kidnapping
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Attellah warned that if the doctor is not released by midnight, to carry on with his life-saving humanitarian work, the KMPDU will paralyse all medical services.

He noted that medical personnel are impartial and dedicated to saving lives, regardless of the side they take in any conflict.

"KMPDU, representing all Kenyan medical doctors with a membership of 10,000 across both the public and private sectors, strongly condemns the abduction of Dr. Austin Omondi (Alias Japrado), allegedly by government agents driving car registration KCU 819H," Atellah said.

"We demand the immediate and unconditional release of Dr. Austin Omondi. Should he not be safely returned by midnight, we will initiate the closure of all public and private medical services to locate our colleague."

The KMPDU condemns in the strongest terms possible the abduction of one of our member, @Dr_AustinOmondi who was among the mobilizers of #MedicsforKenyans offering free medical aid and blood donation drive to help injured protestors. Join the search for him.#REJECTFİNANCEBİLL pic.twitter.com/ys4d65kMCG

— KMPDU (@kmpdu) June 23, 2024

An independent check by The Eastleigh Voice found this number did not exist in the database of the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA).

Atellah also revealed that Omondi had received death threats due to his involvement in the 'Medics for Kenya' initiative. He clarified that the initiative, led by young doctors under the union's guidance, provides essential first aid to protestors injured by violent police actions.

The KMPDU official reiterated that despite challenges including the unemployment of 4,000 doctors and 1,500 interns who are waiting for their licences, they support the protests aimed at making the Kenyan government prioritise its citizens over international financial institutions.

"We unequivocally reject any breach of the Geneva Conventions, which protect medics and aid workers even in conflict zones. The recent protests do not justify such reprehensible actions," he said.

The heavy-handed actions by the police have so far left two people—29-year-old Rex Masai and 21-year-old Evans Kiratu—dead and many others injured, and several well-known activists have been arrested by the police for taking part in or helping to organise the demonstrations.

Rights organisations and leaders have condemned the acts, asking the authorities to exercise restraint during confrontations as the demonstrators are exercising their constitutional rights.