Council of Governors chairman Peter Munya has said that the process of terminating employment of the striking doctors has begun.
According to Munya all county governments have started the process, which he notes started as soon as the dismissal letters were issued to the said doctors.
The striking doctors, who have boycotted work for the past 54 days, were served with show-cause letters, after they failed to return to work.
“Most counties are in the process of following the laid down procedures. The next step after showing-cause will be facing a disciplinary committee and finally termination,” explained the Meru governor.
He however sought to clarify that the counties have not started hiring new doctors to fill the vacant position, even though there are numerous application.
The doctors have defied all directives by the industrial court to return to work as the government finds a solution, with talks involving all stakeholders failing to yield fruits.
The striking doctors have also refused to return to the negotiating table unless Cabinet Secretary Cleopa Mailu and Permanent Secretary Nicholas Muraguri are sacked.
According to Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union secretary-general Ouma Oluga, the union would only negotiate with the government in the presence of neutral mediators.
“We engage, reach agreements and then in the evening they change their position and say something contrary. We are not going to engage with liars any more,” Dr Oluga said.