Fifteen doctors have been arrested for leading protests at Kenyatta National Hospital.
The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union held a demonstration at KNH, demanding better employment terms for members.
KMPDU secretary general Davji Atellah said the demonstration is a show of displeasure in the hospital leadership of Chief Executive Officer Dr Evernson Kamuri.
“The demonstration is a show of displeasure in your leadership, unfair dismissal of doctors in post-graduate training, unfair engagement of doctors on contract in KNH despite it being against the KNH Manual and blatant refusal to obey court orders,” he said.
Earlier, the union threatened to paralyse KNH operations over the alleged sacking of 40 doctors.
Union officials claimed that at least eight doctors have already been sacked, while the rest have received three months’ notices terminating their contracts.
Despite the facility facing a shortage of medical workers, Atellah said the hospital’s management dismissed the doctors last month without any reason.
Further, he said that the hospital had ignored a court order on employment and payment of doctors as well as reinstatement of sacked medics.
They also issued warnings to facilities in Laikipia, Kirinyaga and Kitui counties, citing doctors have been mistreated.