ADVERTISEMENT

Over 100 psychiatric patients escape as doctors strike

Some 5,000 Kenyan medical experts went on strike on Monday after negotiations with government over a pay rise collapsed.

Psychiatric patients in Nairobi climbed over a wall to escape during a staff strike

Nairobi Police Commander Japheth Koome told AFP that police had launched an operation to return the patients to the hospital, as videos on social media showed them climbing over the hospital walls and running down a nearby highway in the capital.

"We have already arrested dozens of the... patients who had escaped in an ongoing operation," Koome said.

"The doctors messed (up) by leaving the patients unattended."

ADVERTISEMENT

Some 5,000 Kenyan doctors, pharmacists, dentists and nurses went on strike on Monday after negotiations between unions and government over a pay rise collapsed on Sunday.

Unions are demanding a 300-percent pay rise for doctors and 25- to 40-percent pay rise for nurses that was agreed upon in a 2013 collective bargaining agreement, but has yet to be implemented.

Hundreds of striking workers marched to the National Treasury wearing lab coats, masks and theatre caps before police dispersed the crowd with tear gas.

"No amount of intimidation, no amount of propaganda will make us change our determination," said Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists' Union (KMPPDU) chairman Samuel Oroko.

He said the public should be prepared for "the longest strike ever" as doctors would not return to work until their demands were met.

ADVERTISEMENT

The striking doctors and their supporters point to recent scandals in corruption-plagued Kenya in which millions of dollars have been embezzled or gone unaccounted for, while the doctors struggle to get their wage increases.

JOIN OUR PULSE COMMUNITY!

Unblock notifications in browser settings.
ADVERTISEMENT

Eyewitness? Submit your stories now via social or:

Email: eyewitness@pulse.ng

Recommended articles

NERC deregulates meter prices, customers to choose vendors by May 1

NERC deregulates meter prices, customers to choose vendors by May 1

'Misplaced priorities': Peter Obi tackles Tinubu over Lagos-Calabar Highway project

'Misplaced priorities': Peter Obi tackles Tinubu over Lagos-Calabar Highway project

Tinubu's minister tells Nigerians to accept tariff hike or remain in darkness

Tinubu's minister tells Nigerians to accept tariff hike or remain in darkness

FG plans to install solar cameras on Third Mainland Bridge

FG plans to install solar cameras on Third Mainland Bridge

NNPCL set to end fuel scarcity by May 1 with 1.5 billion litres of products

NNPCL set to end fuel scarcity by May 1 with 1.5 billion litres of products

Lawmaker tackles report questioning Tinubu’s stance on electoral reforms

Lawmaker tackles report questioning Tinubu’s stance on electoral reforms

'There was no shoot out' - EFCC denies shooting Yahaya Bello protesters

'There was no shoot out' - EFCC denies shooting Yahaya Bello protesters

Tinubu's stance on electoral reform questioned ahead of 2027 polls

Tinubu's stance on electoral reform questioned ahead of 2027 polls

You’re here to study  —  Canada introduces new work hour rules for Nigerian students

You’re here to study  —  Canada introduces new work hour rules for Nigerian students

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT