Trans Nzoia County Governor George Natembeya has issued a stern warning to striking doctors, stating that if the strike persists, he will terminate their employment and seek to employ medical professionals from neighbouring Uganda.
The governor emphasized the dire consequences of the ongoing strike, which has resulted in a two-month-long disruption of healthcare services in public facilities.
Speaking to over 3,000 county government employees, Natembeya reiterated that all the doctors’ demands had been addressed, thus questioning the rationale behind the ongoing strike.
“Since the East African Community protocols allow free movement of labour, goods and services, I will just declare vacancies and get doctors from Uganda. Mandera County government has recruited doctors from Ethiopia and they are working for them,” Natembeya said.
The governor accused KMPDU of demanding a monthly salary of over KES 200,000 for medical interns, which he said was too high in the current economic climate.
“It is even more than what we pay nurses to supervise them during their internship. Doctors in private institutions are paid Sh150,000 and they do a lot of work,” he argued.
The county boss however concurred with the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentist Union (KMPDU) on the matter of the Ministry of Health settling all overdue payments and ensuring the posting of interns.
