Nandi health workers threaten to down tools

Nandi County health services could soon be paralyzed after health workers issued fresh strike notice to the County Government.

Led by Mr Jacob Maswai, the chairman Nandi County Health Workers Union, the health workers comprising of nurses, clinical officers, morgue attendants and social workers issued a 14-day ultimatum to the County Government to act on the issues they have raised including better pay and improved working conditions failure to which they will down their tools.

The planned health workers’ strike is set to paralyze services in all the 391 health facilities in the county.

“People have not been paid for six months, and if it continues this way, we are telling them that we are giving you two weeks after which we shall not step into those offices,” said Mr Maswai.

Some of the grievances include alleged mistreatment by the county government, working on casual basis, delayed promotions, payment delay and omission of allowances.

The workers want the county government to address the shortage of staff in health facilities, correct designations of all deserving health workers and confirmation of workers who have finished their probation period.

According to Maswai, some of the workers have not received their pay for the past six months.

The health workers also claimed that the county has been reluctant and has failed to amicably address issues raised by the union.

Written by Ronald Kibet