The Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Union (KMPDU) has threatened to call a nationwide doctors’ strike over what it describes as the unfair arrest of Nairobi Hospital Officials.
Speaking after visiting the detained officials at Muthaiga Police Station, KMPDU Secretary General Davji Atellah demanded the immediate release of the hospital officials.
Atellah warned that if they are not freed, doctors across the country could down their tools.
At the centre of the dispute is the arrest of Dr Job Obwaka, an 83-year-old doctor and board member at The Nairobi Hospital. According to the union, Obwaka was arrested on Saturday morning at the parking area of the NSSF Building, where his clinic is located, before being taken to the police station.
He spent Saturday night in custody and was visited on Sunday by union officials, lawyers and members of his family.
Two other hospital officials are also reported to have been detained. They include director Valery Gaya and former director Chris Bichage, who are said to be held at Pangani Police Station.
According to the Law Society of Kenya, the arrest of Dr Obwaka is linked to a dispute over the hospital’s 2024 annual general meeting and issues related to the register of members.
However, KMPDU says the accusations against the doctor are questionable because the responsibility for maintaining such records lies with the company secretary’s office.
The union also pointed out that Dr Obwaka was not present when the alleged irregularities in the records are said to have happened.
Lawyers involved in the matter say the arrests are connected to an ongoing dispute over the control and management of The Nairobi Hospital.
The situation has drawn attention from several political leaders. Former Attorney General Justin Muturi claimed that there have been attempts to take control of the hospital, while Kalonzo Musyoka, leader of the Wiper Democratic Movement, criticised the arrests and called them unacceptable.
Meanwhile, KMPDU insists that unless the detained officials are released, doctors may be forced to take industrial action.
