KMPDU accuses MoH of violating late Dr Mogusu's right to privacy

The Kenya Medical Practioners, Phamarcists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) has accused the Ministry of Health of violating the late doctor Stephen Mogusu's right to privacy, following his payslip that was leaked online. 

According to the union's Secretary General Chibanzi Mwachonda, the leakage was a stunt by the ministry to mislead Kenyans. 

He took to Twitter and wrote, “It is irresponsible to misinform the public and breach the private and confidential information of your employees."

Mwachonda clarified that the information in the payslip was not referring to his monthly earnings as bloggers on social media had reported but it reflected the salary arrears owed to the late doctor for four months. 

The KMPDU boss claimed, “The payslip you have released is four months salary arrears that our deceased colleague did not get to receive while alive. It was processed while he was in ICU."

Following the leakage of the payslip on social media, there has been a debate among Kenyans regarding its legitimacy. 

Mogusu's death reignited the issue of doctors' pay. The deceased sent the last message to his colleagues before his demise, in which he seconded their grievances. 

In the message he stated, "My dear colleagues, let me take this opportunity to admonish you today to get your pay or get out while you can with your health and life intact." 

Mogusu was in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the Kenyatta University Teaching and Referral Hospital at the time. 

Machakos Governor Alfred Mutua also called out 

Mogusu's employer, the national government, for not not paying doctors for months.

Deputy President William Ruto also weighed in on the plight of doctors and criticized politicians prioritizing BBI over issues raised by health workers. 

Ruto said, “It is reckless for anyone to say the political matters including the proposed constitutional reforms (under Building Bridges Initiative) are dealt with before the issues raised by health workers are addressed yet we are in the middle of a pandemic.” 

“Our focus should be on equipping health workers with PPEs and pay them their salaries and allowances. County governments should prioritize and deal with the issues raised by doctors, nurses, clinical officers and other cadres of medics who are in the frontline fighting Covid-19 outbreak,” he added.