Health

KMPDU threatens to sue IG Koome over crackdown on striking doctors

Striking doctors demonstrate outside the Ministry of Health headquarters in Nairobi on April 9, 2024. (Photo: Courtesy)

By Bashir Mohammed | Sunday, April 14, 2024

The KMPDU and several groups want Koome to retract his directive to police commanders and apologise.

The doctors' union and several groups, including the Law Society of Kenya (LSK), have threatened legal action against Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome if any of them is harmed during their ongoing strike.

The Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Union (KMPDU) and the groups have demanded that Koome retract his directive for police commanders to deal "firmly and decisively" with striking doctors and apologise for his statements.

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They had given Koome until 6 pm on Sunday to take these actions, but he had not acted on their demands by that time.

The groups backing the KMPDU are the Law Society of Kenya (LSK), the Katiba Institute (KI), The Institute for Social Accountability (TISA), the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC), the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ Kenya), the Africa Centre for Open Governance (AFRICOG), Tribeless Youth, and Siasa Place.

In a statement by lawyer Ochiel Dudley, acting on their behalf, they also demanded an apology for the violent attack on KMPDU Secretary-General Davji Atellah during a past demonstration.

“In your retraction, you must also apologise for the violent attack by police ... which took place on February 27, 2024,” the statement read.

“If you disregard our demand by the specified time, we will initiate court proceedings against you. Based on the doctrine of command responsibility, we will seek orders holding you personally liable for harm caused by the police to the striking and picketing medics. We will also seek damages against you for the attack on Dr Atellah."

Koome earlier noted that the strike was a public nuisance due to the doctors made inside hospitals and had directed police commanders to take action.

"We wish to caution all doctors to refrain from infringing on the rights of others while demonstrating and [to remind them] that their efforts to disrupt the smooth operations of hospitals will not be tolerated," the police boss said.

He added that some officers were sleeping on major roads, impeding traffic flow.

Koome also said intelligence suggested that non-medical individuals are planning to join the strike, but emphasised that this would not be permitted.

“We assure the public that our country is safe and that the National Police Service (NPS) remains committed to maintaining law and order,” he said in a statement.