Court Summons Nairobi County Officials Over Doctors’ Strike
A Nairobi court has summoned seven members of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) Implementation Committee, warning that they could face contempt of court charges if they fail to appear in court today.
The court directed key county officials, including the County Secretary, the County Executive Committee (CEC) member for Health, the Chief Officer for Health, the Chief Officer for Public Health, and the Nairobi Branch Chairman of the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists, and Dentists Union (KMPDU), to appear in person on Thursday, March 13.
Also summoned are the Branch Secretary and the Branch Treasurer, who must present themselves physically in court by 9:30 AM.
The summons notice stated that the officials must either record a consent agreement or risk facing legal consequences for contempt of court.
Patients Suffer as Doctors’ Strike Persists
The ongoing doctors’ strike in Nairobi County has left public hospitals struggling, with thousands of patients unable to access critical medical services.
The strike, which began on February 28, has severely affected healthcare operations in facilities such as Mbagathi Hospital, Mama Lucy Hospital, Pumwani Maternity Hospital, Mama Margaret Hospital, and various level two, three, and four hospitals within the county.
According to KMPDU, despite a previously signed CBA, doctors continue to experience serious challenges, including unfair salary suspensions, stalled promotions, unpaid gratuities, and failure to receive official confirmation letters for their employment.
The union further stated that doctors have been engaging with the county leadership since 2023 to ensure the CBA is fully implemented, but the negotiations have yielded no meaningful progress.
County Accused of Ignoring Doctors’ Concerns
Despite signing a return-to-work agreement on May 8, 2024, and temporarily calling off a strike on January 23, 2025, to allow for further discussions, the county government has been accused of failing to address the doctors’ grievances.
Doctors leading the protests have expressed deep frustration, accusing the county of acting unjustly. One protesting doctor lamented, “We have held several discussions with the county, but they have ignored all agreements in the CBA. Instead of addressing our issues, they are unfairly dismissing doctors without following due process, without issuing a warning or a proper hearing.”
With over 300 doctors participating in the strike, medical services in the capital remain in crisis, leaving patients in distress.
Agreement Reached with Clinical Officers
While Nairobi doctors continue with their strike, the Ministry of Health has successfully reached an agreement with clinical officers, ending a prolonged strike in that sector. However, the standoff between the county and the striking doctors remains unresolved, with medics vowing to continue their industrial action until their demands are met.
The situation remains tense as healthcare services in Nairobi public hospitals remain paralyzed, putting immense pressure on patients and medical staff still working under strained conditions.
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