The Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN) through its Secretary General, Seth Panyako has faulted Health Cabinet Secretary, Susan Nakhumicha over the assault on the Kenya Medical Practitioners Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) Secretary General, Davji Atellah on February 29.
While addressing journalists on Saturday, Panyako noted that the Cabinet Secretary could have done more to ensure that the situation did not descend into chaos that ended in Davji being hit with a teargas canister.
“When we met with Health CS she assured us that she would accompany us to the Treasury, to demand the funds, how come she is the one who has requested the police to conduct, the assault?” questioned Panyako.
He further demanded that the CS explain her position on the attack at the KMPDU leader, citing that she needs to clarify her role in police's move to disperse the protestors.
Shifting gears, he noted that the Health Ministry was not at fault for the delayed posting of medical interns since the government had yet to disburse the funds.
He clarified that he had visited the ministry where he confirmed that they were yet to receive funding aimed at facilitating the posting of the interns.
Additionally, KNUN placed the government on the spot over corruption citing that it was the reason for the lack of funds to post the interns.
“The problem with Kenya is not the lack of money but corruption. There is enough money to post health workers interns,” explained KNUN.
However, Panyako affirmed that if no action was taken against the police involved in the incident, nurses would down their tools in solidarity with the doctors.
Additionally KNUN expressed their dissatisfaction with the government's withdrawal of the EduAfya programme for students and the comprehensive medical cover for civil servants.
In response to the incident, Nakhumicha on Saturday clarified that the assault was not intentional and she had relayed the same message to Atellah.
Further, she explained that her ministry was not responsible for the failure to post the interns noting that her ministry was helpless on the matter.
