Kisii health workers issue 14-day strike notice

Health staff in Kisii have issued a strike notice to the County for what they termed as growing threats to their work, among many other issues.

Some threats, stated KMPDU officials, involve the stalking of local union officials by suspected goons.

During a press conference Monday evening at a Kisii hotel, the health officials vowed to stage a strike on March 4, if their grievances are not addressed.

"Today we are issuing a 14-day strike notice to Kisii County that will commence on 4th of March, 2924 if the issues raised are not addressed," KMPDU National Secretary General Dr Davji Atellah said.

Atellah described it as shameful that medical staff in Kisii, especially union officials, were being targeted for harassment for fighting for the welfare of staff.

"We are perturbed and dismayed by the County government in choosing to disrupt services, arbitrarily demoting and transferring staff. It is a shame," added George Gibore, Kenya Nation Union of Clinical Officers Secretary General.

"I think the people of Kisii are peaceful. If you chose to attack even a health worker, sending goons to trail him of what good is such a system?" Gibore posed during the evening press conference at a Kisii hotel.

Speaking to the Star, Kisii County Medical Services, Public Health and Sanitation CECM Ronald Nyakweba said they were yet to be served with the notice adding that they will comprehensively respond to the issue raised once the matter reaches their table.

He, however, said the county government cares about all its workers further describing the claims of insecurity as propaganda.

"We have not received complaints of any staff being attacked in his or her line of duty. As a government, we will not allow that to happen to our health workers," Nyakweba said.

"We implore the affected persons to report to us so that we can follow up with relevant authorities with immediate effect."

The health workers have maintained that the strike would only be shelved if all doctors who were arbitrarily sacked and salary withheld were reinstated.

"We are not begging as a union but demanding that these issues must be addressed before 4th March,"  Atellah told journalists.

During early deliberations, the doctors lamented of being tossed left right and Centre by the County.

"You go to school, return to serve your people but you are designated to serve where your services are least needed," he said.

The frustration, he said is intense among many of the specialists working in the region.

Other medics said they have gone for over 17 months without pay forcing their children off school.

Some health staff said they had not been considered for promotions despite attending promotion interviews several months down the line.

In a rejoinder, Nyakweba exonerated the county government from blame saying matters concerning promotion have been in existence even since they came to office.

"We are a new government. Some of the concerns they have raised have been inherited from the previous government," he said.

"But the important point is, we are in the process of addressing their concerns because these are our employees and we care for them and we are committed to a consensus."

Nyakweba said they had convened a meeting to discuss issues raised by the health workers but some of their key officials dodged it.

He said they will have another meeting in due course to discuss the CBA and other concerns.