The Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Union (KMPDU) on Sunday April 14, 2024 urged the Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome to apologise for terming striking doctors a public nuisance.
In a joint statement with Law Society of Kenya (LSK), Katiba Institute (KI), The Institute for Social Accountability (TISA), Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC), Kenya Section of the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ Kenya), Africa Centre for Open Governance (AFRICOG), Tribeless Youth, and Siasa Place, KMPDU urged Koome to withdraw his statement and apologise to the doctors in the country.
“We have seen your press statement today in which you claim to cancel the medics’ right to strike and to picket peacefully and unarmed.
“We must clarify, sir, that you confer neither right. No constitutional article conditions the right to strike or to picket on a notice given to you. Nor can you limit anyone’s right outside Article 24 of the Constitution. Our clients, however, consider that you have suspended Article 37 and 41 of the Constitution. You cannot do that. You are under; not above, the Constitution,” read part of the joint statement.
The doctors union demanded that the Police IG retract the directive and apologise for it publicly by 6:00 pm of Sunday, 14 April 2024.
KMPDU further noted that in the public apology, the police boss must also apologise for the violent attack by police on Dr Davji Atela on 27 February 2024.
In addition, the doctors union emphasized that Koome must offer an apology, adding that failure to offer the apology will force the union to sue him in court.
“If you disregard our demand by the specified time, we will initiate court proceedings against you.
“Based on the doctrine of command responsibility, we will seek orders holding you personally liable for harm caused by the police to the striking and picketing medics. We will also seek damages against you for the attack on Dr Atela,” the unions noted.
KMPDU released a statement a few hours after Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome 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.
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.
