Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) acting Secretary General Chibanzi Mwachonda is among 86 doctors who were fired by the County Government of Mombasa.
In a statement by the Mombasa County Public Service Board, the doctors were dismissed from their services after they failed to return to work as ordered by the government.
"All the doctors who have failed, refused and/or neglected to return to work be dismissed from County services as provided for under section 44 (4) (a), (c) and (e) of the Employment Act 2007 which constitute justifiable or lawful grounds for the dismissal as highlighted in the Act," reads the statement.
In the notice signed by Mombasa County Public Service Board secretary Jeizun Faruk, he directed the health CAS to ensure that the sacked doctors receive their letters and surrendered government property.
“Kindly ensure the above doctors receive their letters and immediately hand over all the properties belonging to the County Government to their supervisors. Update us on the progress of the dissemination of the letters, handover and staff return for each of the facilities,” the notice further reads.
Health CS Mutahi Kagwe had warned medics of being dismissed in late December if they failed to return to work.
He stated that the State had done the best to ensure medics have a safe working environment yet they still chose to go on strike.
“All Kenyans have been affected by the pandemic. Not to downplay the great work they have been doing because they are at more risk than other workers, but now is not the time to go on strike," Kagwe stated.
The medics had been protesting poor working conditions in the hospitals in a protracted battle that started in 2020.
Led by Mwachonda, the health workers announced that they had ended the strike following a meeting with President Uhuru Kenyatta.
"I would like to declare that the strike by KMPDU has now been called off, we shall continue further engagements to follow up on all other matters that were raised in the industrial action dated 16th November," noted Mwachonda.
It is not the first time that the trade unionist is facing adversity in the course of his duty.
Mwachonda was among seven KMPDU officials who were jailed in 2017 for defying a court order to end a strike called by the organisation.
On January 4, 2021, however, the council of governors rejected the return to work formula for doctors deal saying that they were not properly consulted in the talks.
They added that there was no budgetary allocation to cater for the return to work formula in the current state.
Governors noted that they needed a special grant to honour the agreement.
Kisumu County Government has since halted the payment of the 428 medics’ salaries and issued them with show-cause letters which they will need to respond to in 7 days.
