- Summons were issued after the officials failed to appear before a joint sitting of the National Assembly Departmental on Health and the Senate Standing Committee on Health.
- Pukose expressed regret over the postponement of the meeting on two occasions over various reasons.
Image: FILE
Members of the National Assembly and senators have summoned four Cabinet Secretaries and the Council of Governors to appear before Parliament next week over the ongoing strike by doctors.
The lawmakers issued the summons on Friday after the officials failed to appear before
The summons comes after the officials failed to appear before a joint sitting of the National Assembly Departmental on Health and the Senate Standing Committee on Health.
While the union officials of the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU), the Kenya Union of Clinical Officers (KUCO), and the Kenya National Union of Medical Laboratory Officers (KNUMLO) honoured the summons, the COG and the four Cabinet Secretaries failed to appear.
The CSs are Susan Nakhumicha (Health), Florence Bore (Labour and Social Services), Moses Kuria (Public Service and Performance), and Njuguna Ndung’u (National Treasury).
Summoned from the CoG are Chairperson Anne Waiguru (Kirinyaga) and the chairperson of the Committee on Health, Governor Muthomi Njuki (Tharaka-Nithi).
The chair of the National Assembly Departmental Committee on Health Robert Pukose and the chair of the Senate Standing Committee on Health Jackson Mandago adjourned the meeting till May 2, 2024 after the two groups failed to appear before members.
“The relevant Cabinet Secretaries are summoned as per Standing Orders on Powers and privileges of committees 191(1)(a) and (b). Th Council of Governors chairperson Governor Anne Waiguru as well as the council’s committee on Health chairperson Muthomi Njuki are all summoned. Governor Njuki, who, being a former Member of Parliament, has never appeared before this committee anyway,” Mandago said.
Pukose expressed regret over the postponement of the meeting on two occasions for various reasons.
He noted that they are faced with the challenge of organising a joint sitting between the National Assembly and the Senate because of the need for extensive consultations among lawmakers to agree on a date.
He stressed that convening such a meeting is a complex task for the leadership of committees.
“However, all hope is not lost. I concur with my colleagues in the National Assembly and the Senate to issue summons for their appearance before this committee to resolve the outstanding issues,” Pukose said.
Doctors went on strike on March 15 to demand a commitment from the government to fulfil collective bargaining agreements signed in 2017.
The work stoppage has paralysed medical services in public hospitals across the country.