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Health crisis: Governors dismiss striking doctors after talks collapse

Chairperson of Governors, Anne Waiguru (C), Head of Public Service Felix Koskei, Health CS Susan Nakhumicha, among other leaders addressing the ongoing doctors strike stalemate. Photo:X/AnneWaiguru

By Barack Oduor | 25 Apr 2024

According to the Head of Public Service Felix Koskei and Chairperson of the Council of Governors Anne Waiguru, 18 of the 19 issues the doctors wanted addressed have been solved except the issue of interns which is still contentious.

Governors have begun to put their threats into action by sending dismissal letters to striking doctors.

The letters, which outline the doctors' long absence from duty as a breach of their employment contracts, indicate a health crisis that may not be solved soon following the hard stance of the parties involved.

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The sacking of the medics also targets officials of the Kenya Medical Practitioners Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU), the union organisation of doctors in the country. Up to 50 doctors have received dismissal letters across 17 counties.

Kenya Medical Practitioners Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) Deputy Secretary-General Dennis Miskellah has said he received a dismissal letter from his employer.

"I have not earned my salary for the last nine months and I have been working. They owe us and are now dismissing us because we are just asking for what is rightfully ours. We will not relent. Let them fire all the doctors," he said.

Dr. Miskella, a medical officer and a gynaecologist in Embu County, revealed that he has six months to appeal and apply for a review of the County Public Service Board decision.

"This is to convey to you the decision of the County Public Service Board vide letter which resolved you to be dismissed from service on account of desertion of duty and gross misconduct as stipulated in the Human Resource Policies and Procedure Manual," his letter, signed by County Secretary Amy Ruria, reads.

The striking doctors had issued a list of 19 issues they are pushing the national government and county governments to settle before agreeing to a return to work formula.

According to the Head of Public Service Felix Koskei and Chairperson of the Council of Governors Anne Waiguru, 18 of the 19 issues the doctors wanted addressed have been solved except the issue of interns which is still contentious.

"The union backtracked on the return-to-work formula that we had mutually settled on after a series of six marathon meetings. Their new demand on medical interns is an all-or-nothing out-of-court settlement," Head of Public Service, Felix Koskei said.

Health Cabinet Secretary, Susan Nakhumicha announced that President William Ruto's government has released Sh3.5 billion for the payment of salary arrears from 2017 to June 2014, which will now be paid over five financial years.

"We have received Sh6.1 billion to settle all the issues raised by the doctors. We have also embarked on a review of the medical internship programme from the eight teaching universities to realign it with the reality that the country is facing," she said.