Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome on Sunday April 14, 2024 urged police commanders to deal firmly with striking doctors.

In a press statement, the Inspector General warned striking health workers against infringing on rights of other people and disrupting smooth operations of hospitals. 

“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 noted in a statement.

Koome added that the police service has witnessed and received reports of the inconveniences arising from the strike, with medics lying on the streets thus obstructing highways, public roads and disrupting free flow of vehicles and movement of people.

According to the police boss, the medics have become a public nuisance, blowing whistles and vuvuzelas during the demonstrations thus causing discomfort to patients in hospitals and the general public.

“Contrary to the Constitutional provisions on the right to picket, petition or demonstrate, the medics continue to engage in demonstrations without notifying the Police,” he stated.

“Yet, we have information that non-medics with intention to cause havoc and terror to the public intend to join the ongoing processions, a move that poses a threat to public safety and security,” he added.

Meanwhile, Koome assured Kenyans that the country is safe, and that the National Police Service is committed to maintaining law and order. 

His remarks comes a few days after the Kenya Kwanza government banned banned gatherings and protests by striking doctors, terming the ongoing KMPDU industrial action as illegal.

In a statement on April 9, 2024, Interior cabinet secretary (CS) Kithure Kindiki noted that the participants of the industrial action by health workers continue to defy the court order.

Kindiki explained that striking doctors were also intimidating health workers who are not willing to participate in the unlawful strike.

“The participants in the unlawful industrial action have repeatedly threatened to disrupt service delivery in health institutions, to interfere with the daily activities of the non-participating health workers and to undermine public order generally,” Kindiki noted in a statement.

“Gatherings, protests or whatever other action(s) in pursuit of grievances outside the law and in breach of court directives undermines the constitutional order of the Country and are, therefore, not permissible,” he added.