Health services have been paralysed in Homa Bay public health facilities after health workers downed their tools over delayed April salary.
Clinical officers and doctors went on strike last week before nurses joined them on Monday after the county failed to remit their dues.
They also cited other grievances like failure to remit statutory deductions, lack of promotion from one job group to another and understaffing.
The Kenya National Union of Nurses secretary Omondi Njonje, Trustee Lillian Ogutu and the Kenya Union of Clinical Officers executive secretary Philip Mbom said they have no other option left.
Nyonje said the county had violated their agreement of paying them salaries by the 8th day of every month.
“We have not received our salaries at a time we are taking our children to school. Some haven’t paid house rent,” Nyonje said.
On Monday, Nyonje expressed concerns that failure to remit statutory deductions has also deterred health workers from acquiring medical care.
“Many health workers cannot be treated using National Hospital Insurance Fund because the employer does not remit their contributions,” he said.
He said they also incur huge fines from financial institutions over defaulted loans.
They accused their employer of failing to promote them, adding that most of them had worked for many years without promotion.
“Some of us have had promotion letters for more than a year but the promotions have not been effected. Many others who applied for promotion some years are yet to get any feedback,” Nyonje said.
Mbom said the county has repeatedly dishonoured its promises on the welfare of health workers.
“Homa Bay government has not communicated on delay of salaries. The only option we have is to down our tools,” Mbom said.
According to Ogutu, understaffing is a serious challenge in the county. This makes it difficult for them to undertake their duties well.
In response, Health executive Richard Muga said they were putting measures in place to solve the workers’ grievances.
“Homa Bay is a county that relies on devolved funds from the national government to pay workers. We are putting measures to address their grievances,” Muga said.
(Edited by Tabnacha O)
