Last week, the Mombasa county government sacked dozens of doctors including KMPDU boss Chibanzi Mwachonda and senior specialists for refusing to return to work.
In a letter signed by county secretary Jeizan Faruk, Governor Hassan Joho’s administration dismissed the 86 striking workers for boycotting duty.
The notice was sent to the affected via e-mail.
The Joho administration further instructed the doctors to immediately hand over all properties belonging to the county government to their supervisors.
Despite the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Union (KMPDU) Coast branch secretary, Dr Abidan Mwachi, having vowed to go to court over the matter, some of his colleagues are reportedly already facing the music for their defiance.
In one such incident, a video of a doctor from Mombasa getting kicked out of his government-owned home compound in what was served as a consequence for his actions of “going against the system” and demanding better pay.
In the clip which has since gone viral, the medic believed to be one of the outspoken KMPDU officials within the region helplessly watched on as a troop of movers sent from by the estate’s agents on behalf of the county government carried out his furniture and personal belongings.
The doctor takes viewers for a short tour of the compound where he regretfully highlights some of the renovations he conducted at his own expense, including fixing broken water and drainage systems which the next occupant will enjoy.
“I actually came to a government house and then used a lot of money to renovate it so I can live comfortably and suddenly they want to evict me. Why? Because I am a doctor who is going against the system. A system that is corrupt and not paying people,” he laments in the background.
On Saturday, talks between Mombasa County officials and the doctors’ union to end a month-long strike failed to take place.
This comes as the health sector in the county ground to a halt with doctors, nurses and clinical officers pleading with patients to seek treatment in Kwale, Kilifi and neighbouring devolved units.
Wards in major hospitals are empty with services such as surgery, maternity, in-patient and out-patient suspended as doctors, nurses, laboratory technologists, clinical officers and radiographers boycott duties.
KMPDU, Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN), Kenya Union of Clinical Officers (KUCO), Kenya National Union of Medical Laboratory Officers (KNUMLO) and Kenya Health Professionals Society (KHPS) have said they will not be intimidated back to work unless their demands are met.
