Governors deny bias against doctors

Governors have dismissed a report by the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Union that they had rejected 700 doctors posted to counties because of their ethnicity.

The county bosses clarified that the process had been ongoing and has just been concluded.

The Council of Governors (CoG) noted it had been undertaking the recruitment with the Transition Authority (TA) and the Public Service  Commission (PSC).

"We have not discriminated against any medical personnel along ethnic lines. These reports are not true" said Council Vice Chairman Governor Salim Mvurya (Kwale).

He said no doctor had been discriminated against in any county as has been reported in a sector of the media.

Slow absorption

Council Chairman Governor Peter Munya (Meru) concurred with Mvurya, saying the absorption has been slow, contrary to reports that the doctors were being turned away.

The governors said some counties in marginalised areas lack specialists and their efforts to recruit had been unsuccessful.

"We have advertised for these positions but we have been unable to recruit," said Munya.

But TA has threatened to sue county governments this week for rejecting the doctors and other medical personnel posted to them because of their ethnicity.

TA Chairman Kinuthia Wamwangi said the authority will seek legal redress on the matter, arguing that the 70/30 per cent rule in employment must apply.