‘He cannot run the facility’, Kariobangi North MCA blames Sakaja over doctors’ strike
Joel Munuve criticises the Nairobi governor over the delay of illegal stoppage of salaries and dismissals, delay of salaries, stalled promotions, unpaid gratuities, and delayed confirmations following the strike by Nairobi Doctors months after the takeover of Mama Margret Uhuru Hospital.
Kariobangi North Member of County Assembly Joel Munuve has criticised Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja over illegal stoppage of salaries and dismissals, delay of salaries, stalled promotions, unpaid gratuities, and delayed confirmations of doctors at Mama Margret Uhuru Hospital months after taking it over.
The MCA said the county government is incapable of running the Level Six General Hospital, adding that the the medics strike which commenced at midnight confirms the same.
“A few months ago the county took over MMU from the national government. Today, doctors in the county including those of MMU because there is a chronic delay of salaries,” he stated.
“That confirms that the county cannot run a hospital of such level and it was wrong for them to take over from KNH,” he added.
The legislator has blamed the medics strike on Sakaja saying that he has not laid out a proper strategy for ensuring Nairobians get essential services like healthcare.
Munuve stated that instead of Sakaja talking to people who owe the county money to facilitate the running of the county, he has resorted to dumping waste on their facilities citing the recent standoff between the Sakaja-led administration and Kenya Power where the county dumped garbage at Stima Plaza and disconnected their sewer and water.
“Nairobi Doctors have gone on strike because there is no money in Nairobi. Nairobi governor should be talking to the people who owe the county to lay out a strategy on how the debts should be paid and not dumping garbage at their buildings and frustrating them,” Munuve paused.
“As a county, we should lay out strategies on how we should ensure Nairobians get essential services like healthcare because it is a priority. Patients who have come to the facilities today cannot receive some services because doctors are not there,” he stated.
“Sakaja should stop being a goon by dumping garbage to companies that need to pay us to run the county well and ensure Nairobians get essential services,” the MCA emphasised.
The Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentist Union (KMPDU) announced the commencement of their strike last night, saying they do not feel valued and supported by the administration.
They decried illegal stoppage of salaries and dismissals, delay of salaries, stalled promotions, unpaid gratuities, and delayed confirmations.
“All Nairobi County doctors will down their tools tomorrow midnight due to illegal salary stoppages and dismissals, chronic salary delays, stalled promotions, unpaid gratuities, and delayed confirmation letters,” KMPDU said in a statement.
“We don’t choose to strike. How can we care for patients when we are deliberately incapacitated? Doctors must be valued, supported, and empowered to serve,” it added.
