IG Boinnet deploys police to guard public hospitals

In compliance with President Uhuru Kenyatta’s directive, The Inspector General of Police  Joseph Boinnet has ordered for deployment of police officers to guard public hospitals and provide security to nurses who have resumed duty.

On Thursday, February 4, police commanders were instructed to ensure nurses on duty were not disturbed by those hell bent on defying the president’s orders.

The IG assured adequate security would be provided around all public hospitals across the country and that stern action would be taken against anyone found acting in breach of the Public Order Act and a court order.

“We further wish to inform the public that adequate security will be provided around public hospitals and that anyone acting in breach of the Public Order Act will be dealt with firmly,” he said.

The president also directed the National Police Service (NPS) to arrest and lock up any nurse who would be found picketing during working hours.

“We have jointly agreed that all nurses should resume duty not later than Friday, February 15, 2019, at 8am. As the Commander-in-Chief of the Kenya Defence Forces, I have also instructed National Police Service to take stern action on picketers who may intimidate public servants who intend to go to work,” the president said.

Unshaken Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN) announced the health workers would relentlessly continue to push for full implementation of the November 2, 2017, Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).

However, the nurses vowed to continue with their strike despite the president’s stern warning against the industrial action which crippled provision of health services in several public hospitals across the country.

According to the KNUN boss, it was only the union and not the president who could call off the strike which they argued was their constitutional right.

“The union shall not respond to the president’s statement made today (February 13) at State House. While the union respects the president and his office, the law is clear and should be fair on both sides,” KNUN Secretary General Seth Panyako said and warned more nurses would join the protest.

He added that the health workers would only engage their employers who are the County Public Service boards of respective counties.

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