An anticipated solution to the health workers who are currently on strike, has ended in a deadlock after governors declared the strike illegal – By Gerald Gekara.
The Council of Governors chairman Wycliffe Oparanya said they did not sign return to work formula with the health workers claiming the move would bloat county budgets.
As a result the county government has given the health workers ultimatums to report to duty of face further disciplinary action.
“Any health worker who absconds duty will be dealt with in accordance with the law, no health worker will be allowed to walk out of their jobs and then walk back go back when they wish.” COG, chair concluded.
Four Counties have fired 1,900 striking health workers. The first county to let go 400 nurses was Kisumu.
Mombasa, Kilifi, and Taita Taveta have fired 500 health workers each.
In their 37th day of the strike, Kenyans have been forced to seek medical help from expensive private health care providers, with little services in the public sector being reduced.
Health Union officials blamed the worsening situation in hospitals across the country on the decision by the Council of Governors (CoG) to go back on an agreement reached during a multi-agency consultative meeting spearheaded by Labour CS Simon Chelugui.
