The Taita Taveta government will strive to have a highly motivated workforce to increase productivity, Governor Andrew Mwadime has said.
He said he is keen to address major challenges hindering effective and efficient delivery of services in all sectors, through motivation of the county staff.
Mwadime who on Tuesday held a consultative meeting with union officials representing all county workers said all salaries will be paid on time.
He said salary delays have negatively affected service delivery in the county, further promising to ensure the staffers’ welfare is safeguarded.
“We do not wish to go back to days where salaries were being delayed for more than three months. It is our desire to ensure all workers are motivated to boost productivity,” Mwadime said.
The union officials were drawn from the county healthcare professionals, Union of Veterinary Practitioners - Kenya, department of Education Childhood Development Education and vocational training centre teachers.
The governor however cautioned the workers against incompetence, saying all county employees should selflessly work towards improving services in their departments.
“The government is expecting maximum productivity from all the workers. We are putting in place measurers to ensure we curb negligence and incompetence in all the departments,” he said.
The workers unions have been at loggerheads with the county over what they termed as delayed promotions, delayed salaries and non-remittance of statutory deductions.
Taita Taveta Kenya National Union of Nurses chairman Synatte Ogola asked the governor to address the plight of health workers, who were affected by the politically instigated transfers during governor Granton Samboja’s regime.
He said some nurses were withdrawn from managerial positions and moved to dispensaries as punishment for agitating for their rights.
“Tens of our members suffered for raising their voices against the wrong doings by the government.
"Others were also transferred for not supporting the former regime, kindly bring them back to their management positions,” Ogola said.
The chairman said lack of pharmaceuticals, non-pharmaceuticals and other critical medical equipment at the county’s top health facilities should also be addressed, to strengthen healthcare services.
“Our members are committed to serve the people and make our healthcare system a success. We therefore request the government to ensure that all the requirements are made available,” he said.
The Union of Veterinary Practitioners chairman Jaffery Jabir urged the government to offer more support to extension officers to improve agricultural productivity.
He said the extension officers are key in the livestock department as they offer services to hundreds of livestock keepers at grassroots level.
Jabir said the county, which is classified under the arid and semi-arid areas, has a potential of creating wealth from livestock production.
“We are lucky to be in a disease free zone and that should be capitalised on, to ensure that our farmers are empowered to produce more beef,” he said.
The chairman further said extension services should be prioritised to maximise the livestock-rich potential.
He said the county government should take advantage of the vast rangelands to empower livestock keepers economically, through supporting veterinary extension services.
The county boasts of more than one million acres of grazing land falling under 28 community ranges.
It also plays host to the 15,000-acre Bachuma Livestock Export Processing Zone, thus placing it at a better place for livestock fattening and export.
(Edited by Bilha Makokha)
