Mombasa county health workers on Monday downed tools to protest delayed payment of their two months salary.
The workers, who included nurses, laboratory workers and clinical officers, marched to the Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho’s office before presenting a petition to the Mombasa county assembly.
Led by Kenya National Union of Nurses Mombasa branch secretary general Peter Maroko, they called on the county government to address the matter with the seriousness it deserved.
They accused the county finance department of failing to address them even after they issued a notice of protest to demand their delayed salaries.
“It is sad that the county government of Mombasa has failed on their part as our employer to pay us for the services rendered. It is a pity that even as we issued notice to protest, no one from the finance department found it wise to have a sit down with us,” Maroko said.
They said they are going through a difficult time occasioned by the Covid-19 pandemic that has crippled the economy.
The nurses also accused the county government of failing to submit statutory deductions like National Hospital Insurance Fund and National Social Security Fund for several months, even as their monies are deducted every month from their salaries.
“Some of us are sick and have been unable to use our NHIF cards to get treatment because the county failed to submit our deductions, yet there were deductions from our salaries,” Maroko said.
The nurses vowed not to go back to work until they get their salaries fully paid.
The fate of residents seeking medical attention from public hospitals now lies in the hands of the few doctors who heavily depend on the workforce of nurses and clinical officers.
Kenya Union of Clinical Officers Mombasa branch secretary Franklin Makanga said the county has failed to address their issues for the last one year, including promotions.
“We will ensure no services goes on in Mombasa until all our grievances are heard and resolved. The issue of salaries can easily be addressed by the recurrent expenditure, yet the county is doing nothing about it,” Makanga said.
He asked residents to hold the leaders accountable for what will befall the public health sector, following the health workers strike.
Last November, the health workers staged a three-month strike over unpaid salaries and non-remittance of their statutory deductions.
-Edited by SKanyara
