Hospitals struggle as strike enters Day 10

A strike by health workers entered its 10th day on Sunday as private and referral hospitals struggled to cope. (READ: No help from Mama Lucy hospital)

At the same time, the government published details of extraneous allowances — payments to officers required to work outside the scope of duties normally done by those in the same grade — awarded on January 12, this year, for health workers in urban, rural and hardship areas.

“I am concerned about the anxiety, including psychological torture, Kenyans have gone through in the last few days due to the industrial action,” Health minister Anyang’ Nyong’o said in the notice.

“We are working around the clock to address the issues and reach an amicable solution,” read the statement, dated March 9.

The statement said the government had started paying the allowances in December, well ahead of the agreed July 1 date. “Phase two of (the allowances) will be paid with effect from July 1, 2012,” Prof Nyong’o said.

Meanwhile, some nurses resumed work at Migori and Kehancha district hospitals on Sunday. (READ: Sack threat splits striking Kenyan nurses)

The nurses accused Kenya Union of Civil Servants secretary general Tom Odege of being a sell out.

“We fear we may lose our jobs because our union is showing signs of desperation,” said a nurse at Migori District Hospital.

The Kenya Health Professionals Association said members were intimidated. “Some workers were compromised to call off the strike but we are still on,” said KPHA official Alex Orina, adding that staff at less than five institutions were back at work.
The Catholic Church appealed to the workers to call off the strike.

Speaking in Nyeri at the weekend, John Cardinal Njue said it was painful that lives had to be lost.

Reported by Joy Wanja, Charles Mwaniki and Elisha Otieno