Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome on Sunday, April 14, complained about the ongoing doctors' strike and issued a directive to police commanders.
In a statement, Koome lamented that the striking doctors had become a public nuisance, blowing whistles and vuvuzelas during the protests and causing discomfort to patients in hospitals and the general public.
Koome has directed Police Commanders in all counties to deal with these situations firmly and decisively in accordance with the law.
"We wish to caution all doctors to refrain from infringing on the rights of others while demonstrating and that their efforts to disrupt smooth operations of hospitals will not be tolerated," he stated.
Besides blowing whistles, Koome noted that some of these doctors were lying on the streets, obstructing highways, and public roads actions which he claimed were disrupting the free flow of vehicles and movement of people.
Additionally, he complained that the medics were contravening the Constitutional provisions on the right to picket by failing to notify police officers of their demonstrations in advance.
The Inspector General also revealed that police would also deal with those non-medics joining the strike and contributing to the disturbance of peace and disruption of businesses.
He noted that this posed a risk to public safety and security therefore requiring the Police Commanders to take all measures needed to quell any chaos.
The IG further assured Kenyans of their safety adding that the National Police Service was committed to maintaining law and order.
Notably, the doctors' strike has been ongoing since March 7 and may continue if the demands are not met by the government.
Davji Atellah the Secretary General at Kenya Medical Practitioners Pharmacists Dentists Union (KMPDU) has accused the government of failing to honour various commitments to healthcare practitioners.
Some of the demands the doctors want the government to meet include; the posting of intern doctors to various public hospitals and honouring of the 2017 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
The medics have further demanded that the government should not slash the salaries of intern doctors.
Since the strike began, the government has been urging the doctors to embrace negotiations to reach an agreement. President William Ruto last week revealed that the economy was not doing well and intern doctors would earn a Ksh70,000 stipend for one year before they are hired as permanent doctors.
"All our doctors and doctor interns will be taken in. That is why we are going to spend the resources we have to make sure that all the 1,500 doctors are absorbed at once. As a nation, we must live within our means," he remarked while speaking in Eldoret.
