Natembeya threatens to hire doctors from Uganda

Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya has ordered a freeze on salaries of striking doctors and clinical officers if the medics will not resume work immediately.

He has threatened to hire doctors from Uganda to ease the suffering of patients in hospitals.

Natembeya expressed frustration over the ongoing strike that has seen many people die and put the lives of many at stake.

He said the county has fulfilled its obligations with the medics and they should return to work.

"We have come to stage where the medics either return to work or we fire them. We can not pay them for work not done," Natembeya said.

He spoke during a public engagement forum at Kitale School Primary School.

The governor said most of the issues raised by the doctors could have been solved through dialogue.

He said the public service board is in the process of handling promotion of nine physicians.

“We cannot allow patients to suffer while those hired to care for them engage in private practice. The striking doctors need to prioritise their duty to the community," Natembeya said.

Several graduate clinical officers who had been employed are also  without genuine reasons.

He urged the clinicians, who have boycotted work to provide valid reasons for their absence.

“We can do what Mandera county has successfully done. They have hired doctors from Ethiopia. I am willing to explore similar options within the East African protocol,” Natembeya said.

He urged the Ministry of Health to address outstanding arrears and the issue of interns as demanded by the doctors.

"As a county we have done our part and the national government should also meet its end of the bargain," he said.

Talks between the government and the doctors union KMPDU have failed to end the strike.

The government offered to pay the interns Sh70,000 monthly but the doctors have rejected the proposal.

KMPDU wants the delayed CBA agreement of 2017 to be fully implemented before the union calls off the strike.