Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) has rebuked Health CS Mutahi Kagwe for his threats to health workers on their looming strike. 

KMPDU acting Secretary General Dr Chibanzi Mwachonda lambasted Kagwe for threatening health workers who are on the frontline in fighting Covid-19 with dismissal.

“This is the level of insensitivity and arrogance health care workers have to deal with, raising grievances on your welfare and safety in COVID-19 is a crime. The ‘appreciation’ to health care workers in the country is illaudable,” Dr Mwachonda posted on Twitter.

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The union top official issued the rejoinder hours after the CS told health care workers to return to work to avoid being fired by their employer, the government.

During a media briefing on Friday, Kagwe told striking medics to return to work or lose their posts.

“I urge you to resume work to avoid losing your job. Please do not lose your job. As we go towards Christmas, the festive season, do not be another statistic that will be a job seeker next year,” he said.

He made the remarks as he hailed a court decision that suspended the strike by health workers to allow for negotiations by medics and the government led by the Ministry of Health.

But Kenya Union of Clinical Officers (KUCO) has termed his statement as erroneous.

“The temporary suspension was for a different strike by Ministry of Health staff which had lasted for one and half months. The national strike continues,” said KUCO.

KMPDU suspended their nationwide strike by 14 days to allow for talks with the government but vowed to resume on Monday December 21 should the government fail to address their grievances.

Doctors will stay away from hospitals across the country from Monday after they accused the government of failing make a commitment to fulfil their recommendations to avoid the strike.

The medics have been demanding adequate Personal Protection Equipments (PPEs), better working conditions and better remunerations and risk allowances as they work hard to tame Coronavirus.