Kenya starts mass sacking of striking doctors

By Magdalene Mukami

NAIROBI, Kenya (AA) – The Kenyan government Friday started cracking the whip on striking doctors by firing them en masse for missing work without reason and taking part in an illegal strike.

After the government withdrew a 50 percent pay raise offer among other benefits meant to woo doctors back from their three-month nationwide strike, it warned the doctors that it will not “succumb to threats and intimidation” and ordered them to resume work or face disciplinary action.

According to the Nairobi county government, more than 120 doctors have already been dismissed from work for taking part in the illegal strike and staying out of work without reason.

Kenyan Health Ministry offices in the country’s 47 counties are working to compile a list of doctors who are set to face disciplinary action after the deadline to resume work expired earlier today.

The government maintains it is no longer interested in engaging the doctors in further negotiations on salaries and allowances.

Doctors in Kenya had previously rejected a deal to hike wages by 50 percent and pay $5.8 million in backdated allowances, instead demanding a 300 percent pay hike and better working conditions.