Doctors in Kitui have decried what they termed character assassination of healthcare workers after two medics posted to Mwingi hospital were rejected by locals.
The Kitui government has moved doctors serving across county hospitals in changes that have seen Mwingi Level 4 Hospital medical superintendent Dr Evans Mumo transferred to Mwingi North subcounty as the health coordinator.
The county government appointed Dr Hellen Munyao to replace Mumo, with Kennedy Vundi as his deputy.
But residents, led by Mwingi Central MP Gideon Mulyungi, have opposed the move demanding immediate reinstatement of Mumo as the boss at the Mwingi Level 4 Hospital.
The facility is located in Mwingi Central subcounty.
The MP has claimed, without providing proof, that the two medics were unwelcome in his area because they were allegedly involved in "professional negligence in their history".
Those claims have angered the doctors, with the Kitui branch of Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Union protesting against the labelling of medics as murderers.
In a joint statement by trade unions in Kitui county, the medics claimed political interference was affecting public servants' delivery of services.
They further expressed concerns that not only have public workers in Kitui been physically molested, but threatened workers at the Mwingi Level 4 Hospital were working under police protection.
“We have seen photos of officers being manhandled and also witnessed increased police presence and tension within Mwingi town and Mwingi Level IV Hospital. This creates a tense atmosphere for workers to serve,” they said in the statement.
The trade unions termed it ridiculous that the current sorry state of affairs was needlessly touched by a deployment order, but added that they supported rational distribution of workers.
“We support procedural government operations and understand the county government’s desire to have efficient running of all departments by appropriately deploying staff,” the statement added.
The unions, however, stated that public service matters should be handled through the right channels with minimal political interference.
Political interference, the trade unions said, lead to unnecessary confusion and tension in the workplace.
Governor Julius Malombe on Tuesday termed the MP’s rejection of posting of two doctors as misguided and inconsequential.
He said their deployment was irrevocable and the unions have backed him.
But on Wednesday Mulyungi, shared an SMS message he sent to Malombe, making it clear that the two doctors were unwanted in the area. He claimed the duo was allegedly previously involved in professional negligence.
The MP in whose constituency the Mwingi Level 4 Hospital is located, wants Dr Munyao and Dr Vundi removed and have Dr Evans Mumo reinstated.
“I am writing to you requesting; one, you reverse the transfer of Dr Mumo from Mwingi Level 4 to Kyuso as Health SC. Two, you reverse the posting of Dr Vundi and Dr Hellen Munyao to Mwingi Level 4,” the legislator told Malombe.
Mulyungi said Dr Mumo had improved the hospital a great deal.
He claimed that Mumo’s posting to Mwingi North as the subcounty health coordinator is demotion.
But Malombe has since ruled out a reversal. He said the accusation levelled against Dr Munyao and Dr Vundi by the MP were unfounded.
The governor said he had even checked with the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentist Council and did not find any damning record on the two doctors as alleged by Mulyungi.