By KENNEDY MURITHI
Medical practitioners in public hospitals in Western Province have vowed to paralyse operations in the facilities as the planned nationwide strike by doctors gets underway tomorrow.
The doctors drawn from Kakamega, Busia, Bungoma and Vihiga Counties said they would join their colleagues in other parts of the country in the industrial action to demand a pay rise.
Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union Kakamega branch Chairman Mark Makomere said there would be no operations in all Government hospitals until their demands are addressed.
Makomere said the union’s Kakamega branch would not back down, noting it is the only action that the Government would yield to.
"The Government only understands industrial action and that is what they will get until they address our plight," said Dr Makomere.
Makomere, who was flanked by other union officials at a meeting at Kakamega Provincial General Hospital, further faulted the Government for taking too long to address their grievances.
He sympathised with patients who will be forced to seek treatment in private hospitals as a result of the actions. The union’s secretary, David Andambi, urged the members to ignore the propaganda, being peddled by some officials in the Government over the legitimacy of the strike.
