The Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU ), has called on Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki to issue an apology following the incident where Kenya Medical Practitioners Pharmacists Dentists Union (KMPDU) Secretary General Dr. Davji Attella was shot and injured by a police officer during a protest.
In a statement to newsrooms, COTU Secretary General Francis Atwoli further demanded that the Interior CS institute action against the officer responsible for the shooting.
Dr. Attella was leading a peaceful demonstration addressing crucial issues within the healthcare sector, including the delayed posting of medical interns and the payment of fees for postgraduate students.
However, police officers were deployed to scuttle the protest staged outside the Ministry of Health headquarters at Afya House leading to a clash between the the health workers and police who lobbed teargas to disperse the medics.
Amid the altercation, Dr Attella, who is currently hospitalized, is said to have been shot and wounded by a senior police officer.
“The brutal actions taken by the Kenyan police against Dr. Davji Attella during a peaceful assembly are not only regrettable but also a flagrant violation of the spirit of the Kenyan Constitution, for which COTU (K) tirelessly fought to ensure the protection of workers’ rights…,” reads the statement in part.
“We demand an unconditional and immediate apology from the Ministry of Interior and Coordination of National Government for the unprovoked attack on Dr. Davji Attella,” stated Atwoli. “Furthermore, we call for a thorough investigation into this incident and urge that appropriate action be taken against the officer(s) responsible for this reprehensible act.”
The incident has sparked outrage among the public and the healthcare community, which has called for a nationwide protest next week if their demands are not met.