Gov’t officially issues directive for counties to pay doctors

The government has now issued a formal directive to Governors, to pay doctors their dues for days not worked while they were on industrial action.

In a letter signed by the Chief of Staff and Head of Public Service, Joseph Kinyua, the message officially communicated the directive of the President to pay doctors their outstanding dues from December to March, a time they were on strike.

“Following this pronouncement, “ the letter read, “you all county governments are urged to ensure that all doctors serving under the county governments in public hospitals are paid immediately to avoid further strife and misunderstanding.”

This, in line with President Uhuru Kenyatta’s call, while on a tour of Kiambu on Wednesday, April 5, 2017,  to governors to put behind the past and end the impasse over salaries.

Council of Governors Chairman, Peter Munya who spoke to citizen digital after the president’s pronouncement, said that governors had used up the resources they had and as such, the national government should release monies to pay doctors their salaries and allowances.

Speaking during an investments conference in Meru County on Wednesday, April 5, Munya has also indicated that it would also take the Council of Governors to meet and rescind the decision on releasing salaries and without which their stand holds.

Constitutionally, the President has no power to direct governors on action but, the Governors have no problem with the call to pay outstanding dues, only, they now claim they lack the financial muscle to do so.

The governors are now looking to the national government to release funds to fulfill the said directive.

On their part, the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) officials have since welcomed the President’s directive, ending a stalemate that threatened to raise another line of agitation.