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Attellah was gravely injured while leading a peaceful procession to the Treasury.
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Mwachi said the incident has evoked profound sorrow and outrage among medics.
Image: FILE
The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists, and Dentists Union has called for the closure of all hospitals in the country after its Secretary General Davji Bhimji Attellah was hit by a teargas canister in Thursday protests.
KMPDU Chairperson Abi Mwachi called on all doctors to assemble at Ufungano House in Nairobi next week on a date that will be communicated to raise their unified voices against totalitarianism and violence.
"What this means expressly is that we expect a nationwide industrial action and closure of all hospitals – public and private," he said.
Furthermore, Mwachi urged doctors across the continent to show their support by wearing a red armband in a symbolic statement of solidarity from Monday.
He called for the arrest of the person who injured Attellah during a peaceful protest.
Mwachi said Attellah was gravely injured during what he termed a despicable act of violence while leading a peaceful procession to the Treasury.
Mwachi said the incident has evoked profound sorrow and outrage among medics.
"The KMPDU denounces this act of aggression and calls for an immediate and thorough investigation to bring the perpetrators and their collaborators to justice," Mwachi said.
He demanded the swift seizure and arrest of those responsible for the act, including the owner of the weapon used, without delay.
Mwachi said KMPDU strongly condemns any form of intimidation or violence used to suppress the freedom of expression and dissent.
He said the purpose of the march from which Attellah sustained injuries was to demand the release of funds allocated for the deployment of interns and payment of post-graduate fees.
"During this peaceful demonstration, a cowardly and heinous act was carried out by forces that seek to stifle dissent and silence voices advocating for the well-being of our healthcare system," he said.
"This egregious act of violence is not only an attack on our Secretary General but an affront to all doctors across the country."
Atellah was on Thursday hit by a teargas canister sustaining deep cuts in the forehead.
The incident happened during the protest in Nairobi.
Davji arrived at the Nairobi Hospital at around 2:15 pm through the Emergency unit.
Sources at the hospital said that Davji sustained a deep cut on the forehead.
"The cut is 3mm deep and the patient had blood stains on his clothes. He is currently being attended to because he is bleeding a lot," the source said.
KMPDU said they had written to the Nairobi area regional police commander to provide security during the procession.
The doctors held the protest to push for the posting of medical interns.