By News Desk
The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) has strongly opposed the alleged plan by the Kenyan Government to establish a United States-backed Ebola quarantine and treatment centre in the country, warning that doctors nationwide will down their tools if the agreement is not made public within the next 48 hours.
Speaking on the matter, KMPDU Secretary General Dr. Devji Atellah accused the government of secrecy and sidelining healthcare workers on a matter of national security and public health concern.
Dr. Atellah stated that any agreement involving the handling of highly infectious diseases such as Ebola must be subjected to public participation, parliamentary oversight, and professional consultation before implementation.
“Kenyans deserve transparency. Healthcare workers cannot be kept in the dark over an issue that directly affects national health security, safety of medical personnel, and public confidence,” said Dr. Atellah.
The union questioned why details of the alleged arrangement between Kenya and the United States have not been disclosed, including the exact location of the proposed facility, the terms of engagement, safety guarantees, funding structure, and the potential risks to local communities.
KMPDU warned that failure by the government to immediately release the agreement to the public would trigger nationwide industrial action by doctors and healthcare workers.
“We are giving the government 48 hours to make the deal public. If this ultimatum is ignored, we shall mobilize doctors across the country for a nationwide strike,” the SG warned.
The union further argued that Kenya’s healthcare system is already overstretched, citing shortages of medical supplies, delayed salaries, inadequate staffing, and poor working conditions in many public hospitals.
KMPDU insisted that the government should prioritize strengthening local healthcare infrastructure and disease preparedness rather than entering into undisclosed international health arrangements.
The warning comes amid growing public debate over Kenya’s preparedness to handle infectious disease outbreaks and increasing concerns about transparency in government-to-government agreements touching on public health and national sovereignty.
