The Governor of Baringo seems to have offended a few medics with a reckless comment he made a few days ago. The Governor noted that at Kabarnet County Referral Hospital, six doctors were not working yet they were drawing cumulative salaries of close to Ksh. 2 million per month.
Officials in the Kenya Medical Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) have today demanded an apology from Baringo Governor Stanley Kiptis over his remarks that the county had been paying six “ghost doctors” more than Ksh. 300,000 each for the last six months.
Led by Regional Secretary General Ismael Ayabei and Treasurer Nancy Nabwire, the officials termed the claims malicious and inciting.
“Our attention has been drawn to print and electronic media reports dated November 27, 2018 with allegations from the Baringo County Governor that he is paying 6 ghost doctors at a cost of Ksh. 300,000 each,” Nabwire said.
“We would like to take this early opportunity to demand that he apologizes and withdraws these malicious allegations since this was in bad faith and aimed at inciting Kenyans against doctors,” she added.
Nabwire said the claims are a diversionary tactic after they reported a massive exodus of doctors in Baringo county.
“We raised the issue of massive exodus of doctors from Baringo despite a biting shortage,” she said.
The officials from the union further said that the county failed to honour the doctor’s Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) leading to demoralization of health workers. They called on the president and parliament to formulate a health commission that will help Kenyans get better heath care.
According to the Baringo Governor, the county government conducted an audit that revealed the county was losing funds through payment of ghost workers with the Health department being the most affected. The audit is further reported to have shown that out of 80 doctors in the county payroll, only 24 were found to be genuine with the remainder having either resigned or retired.
Do you think the Governor owes the union an apology?