Health care workers in Kiambu County have launched a strike, demanding immediate payment of two months’ salaries and better working conditions.
Over 500 medical professionals from 15 wards demonstrated peacefully, marching from Thika Level 5 Hospital to the Sub County offices in Thika to voice their grievances against the county government’s mishandling of the health sector.
Led by Hillary Kiberiti, Secretary General of the Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN), the protest highlighted the distressing conditions that healthcare workers endure. “The County has failed to pay workers’ salaries for several months, and instead of resolving the issue, they are victimizing those who voice their concerns by removing them from the payroll without proper communication,” Kiberiti stated.
The union’s officials called for the reinstatement of all dismissed workers, emphasizing that such actions are against labor laws.
Additionally, the Kenya Union of Medical Officers (KNUM) Chairman, James Githinji, expressed frustrations over the county’s failure to remit health cover funds to their insurance provider, leaving workers exposed. “We now depend on fundraisers for medical expenses, which is unacceptable and demeaning,” he stated.
Despite numerous attempts to engage in dialogue with Governor Kimani Wamatangi, the workers report that their concerns have been consistently ignored. They have vowed to continue their demonstrations until their demands for timely salary payments and improved working conditions are met. The situation underscores a growing crisis in the healthcare sector, reflecting the broader economic challenges facing many Nigerians.
