"The medics have become a public nuisance" Japhet Koome orders police officers to firmly deal with medics during their demonstrations
The Inspector General of Police, Japhet Koome has termed demonstrations by doctors and clinical officers as an inconvenience to the public.
According to the IG, the medics have been lying on the streets thus obstructing highways, public roads and disrupting free flow of vehicles and movement of people during their demonstrations.
Koome further said that the medics have engaged in the demonstrations without notifying police officers, which is contrary to the laws of Kenya.
“The medics have become a public nuisance, blowing whistles and vuvuzelas during the demonstrations thus causing discomfort to patients in hospitals and general public,” a statement from the IG on Sunday detailed.
He further stated that non-medics, who have intentions of causing havoc to the public intend to join the ongoing demonstrations.
Therefore, the medics have been urged to conduct the demonstrations with caution, as any act of infringing the rights of the general public will not be tolerated.
“In the interest of national security therefore, all respective Police Commanders have been instructed to deal with such situations firmly and decisively in accordance with the law. We wish to caution all doctors to refrain from infringing on the rights of others while demonstrating, and that their efforts to disrupt smooth operations of hospitals will not be tolerated,” Koome added.
It is a month since doctors downed their tools, and have been taking to the streets to demand the posting of interns and implementation of other agreements in the 2017 CBA.
On the other hand, clinical officers are on their second week of the strike, making similar demands.
Led by their unions, Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists, and Dentists Union (KMPDU) and Kenya Union of Clinical Officers (KUCO), the medics have vowed not to relent until the government meets their demands.
Efforts by the government, through the Ministry of Health and Head of Public Service Felix Koskei, to negotiate a return to work formula with medics have not been successful.
