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Mombasa Governor threatens disciplinary action against striking doctors

Mombasa governor Abdulswamad Nassir. (X/Abdulswamad Nassir)

By Amina Bonaya | 02 May 2024

KMPDU Secretary-General Atella early in the week affirmed the union's commitment to the strike until the government honours the CBA.

Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir has vowed to take disciplinary actions against striking doctors in Mombasa County.

The governor said he had already honoured his pledges to doctors in Mombasa County.

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Speaking on Thursday during an interview with Spice FM, the governor said his administration has already addressed the pertinent issues raised by the doctors including the timely payments to KEMSA and the matter of doctors’ promotions is ongoing.

“The people of Mombasa should be able to access NHIF cover as I have already made the full payment to the scheme,” he said.

At the same time, the governor expressed empathy for the doctors' issues while underlining his primary devotion to the people of Mombasa County.

He is committed to ensuring the timely payment of salaries, implementation of promotions, and provision of necessary support for doctors on study leave within the county.

He further detailed efforts He reiterated that the responsibility for resolving the current crisis lies squarely with the national government, saying it’s a matter beyond the purview of the county government.

KMPDU Secretary-General Atella early in the week affirmed the union's commitment to the strike until the government honours the CBA.

"As a union, we insist on continuing the strike until the government is prepared to implement the CBA and assign interns as stipulated in the agreement. We are not ready to renegotiate salary payments or tolerate CBA violations," said Atella.

Speaking to Eastleigh Voice two weeks ago the secretary-general of the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Union (KMPDU) coast region Dr. Ghalib Salim said the doctor's strike is still on.

"As we speak, there are only minimal services because, in general, the wards have been combined. The only minimal services offered that is, emergency. Nothing more, nothing less. We have only three patients in ICU at the moment and we are not admitting any more patients."

The governor's remarks come a day after President William Ruto urged doctors to end the strike and go back to work to ensure the continuation of essential services.

Speaking during the 59th Labour Day celebrations at Uhuru Gardens, Ruto urged all parties involved to act in good faith and prioritize the needs of citizens.

"While the right to engage in industrial action is protected by the Constitution and labor laws, it should be exercised responsibly, with due regard to the wellbeing of the public,” said Ruto.

Led by Governor Anne Waiguru, the Council of Governors (CoG) last month asked the devolved units to refrain from assuming blanket responsibility for the ongoing strike. Instead, the council urged respective counties to take action against medics who fail to report to work.

"We call upon the doctors who are on strike to go back to work failure to which the respective counties which are their employers will be at liberty to take any appropriate actions," Waiguru said.
Doctors, represented by the Kenya Medical Practitioners Pharmacists Dentists Union (KMPDU), have been on strike for 48 days, seeking the implementation of a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) signed in 2017.