Mombasa County Government has threatened to close down a private hospital owned by a senior doctors' union official for, allegedly, flaunting the public health laws.

In a letter by County Medical Officer Dr Kassam Yusuf, the county said an inspection of the hospital was conducted on December 10, 2020, and found the facility wanting.

The county said the hospital has not met eight requirements including the Covid-19 health protocols.

According to Montana Hospital's lawyer Nelson Sitonik, the facility is owned by Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentist Union (KMPDU) Coast Branch Secretary-General Dr Abidan Mwachi.

Mr Sitonik said county issued the threats against his client to force him to call off the strike in Mombasa which has paralysed health facilities in that county.

Last week, Dr Mwachi failed to call of the doctors' strike after the union's national office suspended it to facilitate talks. On Monday, the county said his facility failed to meet the required standards.

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The county said the floor of the hospital was not marked social distancing and has not provided and displayed notices for mandatory wearing of masks by all staff and clients.

But Sitonik said the county had no powers to close the hospital insisting the institution had met requirements for a private hospital to operate.