96 nurses left jobless as Tharaka Nithi County declines to renew contracts

BY Nelson Mboco

Ninety-six nurses who were employed by the Tharaka Nithi County Government have lost their jobs following expiration of their one-year contracts.

The County Director of Communications, Jonah Gaichama said the medics had been hired by the former county administration during last year’s countrywide nurses strike.

Governor Muthomi Njuki’s administration is said to have declined to renew the nurses contracts since the department was already overstaffed considering the striking staff resumed duties.

The County administration is also understood to have considered its already bloated wage bill.

The 96 nurses were reportedly taking home a cumulative monthly pay of Ksh.7 million.

According to Mr. Gaichama the contracts expired on Friday, April 20.

The nurses, however, lamented over the move to send them packing, claiming they had not been given a notice in advance.

Governor Muthomi Njuki, however, assured that the nurses would be paid a gratuity for the one-year period they were in service and would also be given priority in case of fresh hiring.