The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) has demanded the immediate resignation of the chairman of Nairobi Hospital, the entire board of directors, and acting CEO, citing a failure of leadership that has brought the hospital to the brink of collapse.
In a notice dated December 10, 2024, the union issued a seven-day strike notice that will expire at midnight on Tuesday, December 17, 2024, signaling their intention to shut down all hospital operations if their demands are not met.
"Enough is enough. The public and the international community are hereby notified that, unlike the last time we issued a notice, this time doctors and nurses will not attend to patients in the wards or respond to emergencies. Laboratory staff, cooks, cleaners, security guards, porters, and morticians will also not work," said Dr Davji Bhimji Atellah, KMPDU secretary general.
The union, along with the Kenya Hospital Association (KHA) and registered doctors, has expressed deep frustration at years of mismanagement, corruption, and blatant disregard for the welfare of health workers. KMPDU described the state of the hospital as dire, highlighting the December, 4 Annual General Meeting (AGM) as a particularly low point.
During the AGM, the union said the management allegedly presented impostors in white coats, falsely claiming to be hospital registrars, in an attempt to stifle dissent and maintain power.
"The Nairobi Hospital management has continued to harass and abuse our members, cutting their medical services under the guise of financial constraints, while stories of financial mismanagement spread through the corridors. The hard work of dedicated health workers is being exploited by a few individuals.We want to see if the board can once again hire imposters and dress them in white coats as they did during the AGM on 4 December 2024 to take care of patients. We urge the government to intervene and prevent this looming crisis," added Dr Atellah.
The union has further called on the government to intervene and avert the impending crisis, highlighting the risk to countless patients who rely on Nairobi Hospital.
In a stern warning, KMPDU stressed that all private hospitals that mistreat health workers should prepare to be held accountable.
"It is only a matter of time before KMPDU comes knocking on your doors for accountability. Comply with the law and ensure that workers receive their due payments. You may be hiding for now, but you will not escape our efforts to ensure fair labour practices in the health sector, private and public institutions," he said.
