Church leaders implore gov't to stop threatening striking doctors

Southern Nyanza Anglican Church Bishop, Simon Onyango said it is unfortunate that the government is issuing sacking threats to the doctors instead of looking for better ways to deal with the impasse.

Onyango said the demand from the doctors is genuine and it’s therefore upon the government to pursue them to take a different stand and not threatening them with the sacking.

He said the government of Kenya is fond of issuing threats to any civil servants on strikes, a trend he said is old school.

His remarks were echoed by Southern Nyanza Anglican church Vicar General Canon Joshua Abulowho said that the government should not even dream of sacking the striking doctors because the country has an even shortage of doctors.

Abulo said the government should look for avenues to end the strike rather than issuing threats to the striking doctors.

The church leaders said many Kenyans are suffering because they are not able to get services in government health facilities and therefore the government should expeditiously look for ways to end the stalemate in the health sector.

The doctors strike has lasted for one month, with no end in sight as the medics and government continue to hold a hard stance on talks.