Health Cabinet Secretary Sicily Kariuki on Monday announced the postponement of the arrival of the Cuban doctors to the first week of June.
Through a tweet, Ms Kariuki went to explain this postponement as having been caused by the late signing of an agreement on their arrival.
“Cuban doctors are expected to arrive in the country on June 7 2018. The new arrival date was set after the MOU with the Council of Governors was signed a week later than expected,” read the tweet.
[caption caption="Health CS Sicily Kariuki"]
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According to the CS, the 100 doctors will help deal with special medical cases and won't take any head or administration position held by Kenyans
She also dismissed claims that the medics will be overpaid noting that those in Job group S don't receive Sh800,000 as reported but ranges between Sh160,00 and Sh315,700.
The arrival of the doctors has been marred by hostility and criticism from members of the public and medical stakeholders who hold that there are enough medical practitioners in the country who can perform the duties given to the Cubans.
Dr Sam Misango, a consulting surgeon, had filed a suit seeking to bar the government from bringing in the doctors citing that there was no evidence that the government tried to recruit Kenyan doctors before making the decision.
Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) Secretary General Ouma Oluga has vehemently expressed his disappointment with the plan citing that the exercise will take positions that the Kenyan doctors deserve.
“There are 1683 unemployed doctors in the country and 171 are specialists who could have been employed by the country instead of importing labour,” stated Oluga.
[caption caption="KMPDU Secretary General Ouma Oluga"]
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He also alleged that the Cuban doctors will cost the government a whooping Sh2 Billion in salaries alone excluding security, transport, housing and food which the counties will pay for.
