Over 100 mentally challenged patients have broken out of the Mathari Mental Hospital in the wake of the countrywide strike by doctors in public hospitals.
In photos and videos capturing the escape, some of the patients are seen jumping across the hospital's perimeter wall. Others are captured along the Thika Super Highway running aimlessly, endangering their own lives.
Confirming the incident, police stated that they had launched a major operation to search for the mentally-ill patients.
On Monday health workers made good their threat to down their tools inorder to push the government to implement a collective bargaining agreement (CBA) they signed in June 2013.
According to the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) Secretary-General Dr Fredrick Oluga the Government had gone against their agreement for three years now.
The strike by the nearly 5,000 doctors, nurses, pharmacists, dentists and interns is seeking to push for review of job groups, promotions, deployment and transfer of medical officers, as well as remuneration.
However, the court had on Friday ruled against the mass action and instructed dialogue among key stakeholders including Health Minister Cleopa Mailu and the Council of Governors.
Nonetheless, hospitals and other medical facilities remained dormant with the medics holding that they would not go back to work until the Government fulfils its end of the bargain.
Here is the video:
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