Doctors in Mombasa county on Friday, January 15, called off their strike after striking a deal with the county government.
In a statement, Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) Secretary KPMDU Coast Branch Dr. Abidan Mwachi noted that 86 doctors, including acting Secretary-General Chibanzi Mwachonda, who had been fired would be reinstated with immediate effect.
He further directed all the doctors to report back to their work stations immediately.
The doctor's union noted that the Mombasa County Government had addressed all the issues they had raised and mechanisms put in place to avert such eventualities in the future.'
86 doctors had been dismissed on January 6, by the Mombasa County Public Service Board, 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," the statement read in part.
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 its best to ensure medics had 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.
KMPDU addressed the sacking of the health workers noting that the welfare, safety, terms and conditions of work of doctors including the remuneration were paramount in the delivery of healthcare services to the people.
"The sacking of health workers for engaging in industrial action is detrimental to the health sector in our country due to the acute shortage of healthcare personnel, it is therefore illogical to employ a brickmanship approach to the ongoing disputes," the union stated on January 13.
