Tharaka-Nithi nurses strike over allowances
Stranded patients at the Chuka Level Five Hospital in Tharaka-Nithi County after nurses went on February 8, 2016. PHOTO | ALEX NJERU | NATION MEDIA GROUP
ALEX NJERU/NATION
What you need to know:
- Guards barred the media from accessing the wards.
- He said the workers have no medical cover and some of the members, who have loans with banks have been blacklisted for failing to pay on time.
Services in most public hospitals in Tharaka-Nithi County were paralysed as a strike called by nurses began Monday.
This is the seventh time the nurses have boycotted work even as the county struggles with a cholera outbreak that has so far claimed two lives.
The health workers said the county government has failed to remit risk, housing and other allowances as agreed last year.
The branch secretary for the Kenya National Union of Nurses Tharaka-Nithi Kenneth Micheni said they will resume work after all their demands have been met.
Speaking at the Chuka Level Five Hospital, Mr Micheni said in 2014, union leaders met the County Health Executive and agreed to give the workers risk allowance, promotions, pay slips, and remit all statutory deductions.
“The county government has neglected the health workers,” said Mr Micheni.
He said the workers have no medical cover and some of the members, who have loans with banks have been blacklisted for failing to pay on time.
“Those with loans and others paying Higher Education Loan Board (HELB) have been penalized because our employer has failed to submit the deductions,” he said.
He said efforts to hold dialogue with the county health department have been unsuccessful.
“Some of our friends who have been vocal in demanding for their rights have been fired while others have been transferred to far-flung areas in a bid to silence them,” said Mr Micheni.
The official noted nurses attending to cholera patients at a camp in Gatithini market have also been asked to withdraw their services.
Relatives of patients admitted in various hospitals in the county have already started transferring them to hospitals in neighbouring Meru and Embu counties.
Guards barred the media from accessing the wards.
Chuka Level Five Hospital Medical Superintendent Dr Elijah Kameti declined to comment on the matter and directed journalists to Health Chief Officer Walter Mutegi whose phone went unanswered.
The Nation could also not reach the County Health Executive Magdalene Njeru. She is said to be on official duty with Governor Samuel Ragwa in England.
