Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya has given an ultimatum to the striking health workers in the county to call off their strike.
Services in public hospitals have been disrupted as healthcare workers' strike entered it's fourth-week countrywide.
While addressing the press at the county headquarters on Wednesday, Opranya said the ongoing strike by nurses and health workers is against the law, considering that the high court has already ruled against it.
“It is important to note that the court has already pronounced itself on this matter. As many know, the court has ordered the suspension of the strike at the national level, Oparanya said.
He added that "As a county, we also went to court to have the industrial action by the County medical workers stopped and we obtained a favorable ruling.”
Continued that “On the strength of the court ruling, I hereby order all striking medical workers to go back to work. Any worker who will not report to his or her station by tomorrow (Thursday) 8 am shall be summarily dismissed and replaced."
Nurses and clinical officers have stayed away from health facilities to demand supply of adequate Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs), employment of all medics on locums and contracts, payment of risk allowances, and promotions.
Oparanya stated that this was the wrong time for anyone to go on strike or engage in industrial action given that the country is faced with existential crisis caused by Covid-19.
“These are unusual times that require sacrifices, that’s why medical workers have no choice but to return to work."
The governor said that due to the ongoing strike, his county has closed some of its public health facilities, subjecting people to pain and suffering.
Oparanya, who is also the chair of the Council of Governors, reiterated that some of the demands made by the health workers are dictated by the national government and that those which are county specific have already been addressed.
“As I have said, issues such as provision of risk allowances, establishment of the Health Service Commission among others fall within the mandate of the National Government. It is important to inform you that I have petitioned the National Government to quickly address these issues” Oparanya said
He added that his administration has addressed the issue of PPEs, promotion of health workers, training of medics, and insurance cover.
