Nyeri Governor under fire over threat to fire medics

The strike by Nyeri county health workers, which is now in its third week, has taken a new shift after the County Assembly Committee on Health dismissed a threat by the county executive to sack them for failing to call off the industrial action.

Governor Nderitu Gachagua had warned that all striking workers will be replaced, arguing that they have adamantly declined to resume duties despite assurances of addressing their grievances.

The health committee chair Stephen Mwaniki said that the County Public Service Board has no mandate to terminate the employment of health workers who were seconded from the National Government.

He also faulted the Governor for threatening to sack the striking workers saying that the standoff would not have taken that long if the executive agreed to dialogue.

Governor Gachagua had said that the County Public Service Board will be placing job advertisements to fill the slots starting Friday if the workers will not have terminated their strike.

Nyeri County health sector remains paralysed for the third week running now after nurses in all public health facilities went on strike over pay.

The nurses maintain that they will not call off the strike until all their grievances are addressed fully.