We are Not a Nuisance: West Pokot KMPDU Secretary Tells off Koome

KMPDU Secretary General Davji Bhimji Atellah addressing Medics.PHOTO/Courtesy.

By Cynthia Lodite,

Kenya Medical Practitioners Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) secretary general in West Pokot County Gilbert Korir, has told off Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome’s statement on the ongoing strike.

Doctor Korir while speaking to Kalya Radio in an Exclusive interview on Monday 15th April stated that doctors are not a nuisance to the society instead they are trying to push for what is right.

“We are not a nuisance to the society we are only trying to push for what is right,” said Korir.

Notably Korir’s remarks comes in just a day after Inspector General of Police Koome issued a statement on Sunday 14th April on strike by doctors and clinical officers.

In the press statement Koome highlighted that medics during their demonstrations while blowing whistles and vuvuzelas, cause discomfort to patients in hospitals and the general public.

“The medics have become a public nuisance blowing whistles and vuvuzelas during the demonstrations thus causing discomforts to patients in hospitals and general public,” read the statement in part.

Meanwhile, Korir while shading light into the ongoing strike by medics noted that they do not cause any destructions as alleged of throwing stones and blocking roads.

“We only march for a few minutes and we do not throw stones we allow cars to pass,”said Korir.

In addition Koome noted the strikes by doctors on the roads are affecting flow of vehicles and movement of people.

“The 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 the free flow of vehicles and movement of people,” Koome said.

On the other hand, Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Union, Law Society of Kenya and a number of human rights groups have threatened to sue Koome over the ongoing doctors’ strike.

According to them, no constitutional article conditions the right to strike or to picket on a notice given to the IG.