Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Union (KMPDU) together with a number of lobby groups are now threatening to sue Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome over the ongoing doctors’ strike.
The organizations have demanded an apology from the IG following his directive to police to deal with the striking medics “firmly and decisively for becoming a public nuisance and posing a threat to public safety and security.
In a Demand letter signed by lawyer Ochiel Dudley, KMPDU, Law Society of Kenya, Katiba Institute, The Institute for Social Accountability, Kenya Human Rights Commission, International Commission of Jurists (ICJ), and Africa Centre of Open Governance among others, have vowed to sue the IG for issuing the directive.
The groups argue that the directive by the IG was unconstitutional.
The group further demanded that Koome retract his directive and issue a public apology latest by 6:00 pm Sunday or he will be held personally liable for harm caused by the police to the striking and picketing medics.
Koome had ealier ordered County Police Commanders to “deal firmly and decisively” with doctors and clinical officers engaging in street demonstrations in various parts of the country.
In a statement, Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome lamented that the doctors and clinical officers have become a public nuisance.
The police directive came as the doctor’s strike enters its 5th week, eliciting varied reactions from Kenyans.
