Health services in Siaya grind to a halt after doctors stop work in protest over an assault on a young medic by senior county officialsKMPDU accuses county leaders of attacking the medic for attending to a patient an official did not prefer, citing clear violations of international labour standardsThe union demands accountability from Governor James Orengo and safety guarantees before resuming dutiesTUKO.co.ke journalist Harry Ivan Mboto has over three years of experience reporting on politics and current affairs in Kenya
Siaya doctors have downed their tools to express outrage over what they say was a violent and frightening attack on a young colleague.
KMPDU put Siaya governor James Orengo on notice after alleged attack on young Siaya doctor. Photos: James Orengo, KMPDU.
Source: UGCThe medic was allegedly beaten by senior county officials during a night incident reported on Sunday, November 30.
The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) Nyanza branch announced that all its members working in the county would suspend their duties immediately.
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The union said it could not continue offering services while one of its own had been harmed while on duty.
In a strongly worded letter sent to the Siaya county secretary and the head of public service, Branch Secretary Aggrey Orwenyo said the union had been left angry and deeply unsettled by the attack.
He said those involved included individuals in county leadership, the local chief, and staff attached to the governor’s office.
Copies of the letter were addressed to the governor and several senior officials in the county health system, among them the chief officer for health, the CEC for health services, the director of human resources, the county director of health, and the national secretary general of KMPDU.
How was the Siaya medic attacked by county officials?According to the union, the young medic was assaulted after attending to an emergency involving a patient who was not preferred by a county official.
Orwenyo described the incident as unacceptable and inhumane, insisting that such behaviour has no place in a professional setting.
He said the assault went against international labour protections that guide safe working environments.
He also pointed to the International Labour Organization Convention No. 155 of 1981, explaining that it obligates governments and employers to ensure workplaces remain free from intimidation, risk, and violence.
The union leader added that workplace abuse has no room in modern labour practice and that Kenya is expected to uphold the global standards it signed onto.
Orwenyo warned that the union would not sit back while threats and violence become part of daily work for healthcare workers.
He said the doctors had stopped services until clear action is taken by the county government, particularly by Governor James Orengo, to ensure their safety.
“As a union, we cannot and will not tolerate the normalisation of violence against healthcare workers. Effective immediately, we hereby suspend all medical services offered by our doctors in Siaya county until the county governmrnt takes decisive action,” Orwenyo said.KMPDU said its members will only return to work when the Siaya County Government proves it is ready to follow labour laws and safeguard the wellbeing of its employees.
What nurses’ union said regarding the Siaya attackIn a related development, the Kenya National Union of Nurses Siaya Branch Secretary Kennedy Hamisi also issued a statement condemning the attack.
Hamisi detailed how their staff were physically assaulted, and a medical doctor “was forcibly frog-marched” while attending to emergemncy case.
He added that the perpetrators went further to threaten termination of employment, an act that he termed unlawful and abusive.
The union leader warned that political interests must never interfere with the work of civil servants.
Among the demands he issued in the letter were that the governor initiates an immediate and impartial investigation and takes appropriate legal action against the perpetrators, publicly condemn the attack on healthcare workers and caution individuals associated with his office to respect healthcare professionals.
Orengo was also demanded to provide consolation, support and compensation for the affected staff.
“In light of this incident and until the above demands are adressed, our members will not resume duties at the Bondo Sub County Hospital. We advise any well-connected individuals who believe they are powerful enough to assault healthcare workers to personally step in and offer medical services to the people during this period,” Hamisi said.Medics during a previous strike. Siaya doctors vowed to suspend duty until their grievances are addressed. Photo: Anadolu.
Source: Getty ImagesWhat happened to Dr Victor Zimbulu?In December 2024, TUKO.co.ke reported that Dr Victor Zimbulu, the superintendent of Vihiga County Referral Hospital, was hospitalised in Kisumu after a violent attack.
The medic was ambushed by unidentified attackers while heading home.
A colleague said he suffered deep cuts on his forehead and is being monitored closely in the ICU at Aga Khan Hospital.
Police have begun looking into the assault as concern spreads among health workers and residents trying to understand why he was targeted.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
