Patients suffer as doctors, county bosses engage in blame game over strike

Council of Governors health committee chairman Jack Ranguma (left) and doctors' union secretary-general Ouma Oluga. Dr Oluga dismissed the governors’ claims that there was no strike by county health workers. FILE PHOTO | NATION MEDIA GROUP

By  Jeremiah Kiplang'at

What you need to know:

  • Council of Governors health committee chairman Jack Ranguma told the MPs that workers had no reason to strike.
  • Mr Ranguma was backed by Kisii Governor James Ongwae, who is also the council’s labour committee chairman.
  • Dr Oluga, however, dismissed the governors’ claims.
  • Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto said health problems in counties were administrative.

The health crisis across the country deepened Wednesday as governors and medics traded accusations on who was to blame for strikes.

Attempts by MPs to find a solution have failed and patients continue to suffer.

The Council of Governors attempted to downplay the crisis when it appeared before the National Assembly's Health Committee on Wednesday, saying nurses and doctors had gone back to work since their salaries had been paid.

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However, Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union Secretary-General Ouma Oluga said the workers had not gone back to hospitals and accused county bosses of lying.

Health workers in Nandi and Nyeri counties are still on strike, demanding better remuneration and terms of service.

NO REASON TO STRIKE

Council of Governors health committee chairman Jack Ranguma told MPs that workers had no reason to strike.

There are boycotts in more than eight counties.

“There is no strike. We would like Kenyans to know that public hospitals are working. They can go to seek treatment,” Mr Ranguma said.

Dr Oluga, however, dismissed the governors’ claims.

“Health workers in Nandi have not gone back to work. They rejected a proposal by the county government.

“In Nyeri, the workers chose to go to court. It is then not true to say that everybody has resumed work,” he told the Nation by phone Wednesday.

Mr Ranguma was backed by Kisii Governor James Ongwae, who is also the council’s labour committee chairman.

SALARIES PAID

“The matter of salaries has been solved in all counties. There is no indication of a strike going on.

“There were problems in Nakuru, Nyeri and Nandi but they have been dealt with,” said Mr Ongwae.

Appearing before the Senate Health Committee on Wednesday, the union officials said the challenges would persist unless an independent agency was created to look into the workers’ welfare.

“With such a unit, most of the human resource problems would be handled properly. Health should never have been devolved,” union chairman Samuel Oroko said.

Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto said health problems in counties were administrative.

“It is not about the law. This is an administrative issue. Some doctors are asking for promotion arrears dating back 10 years but you all know county governments came into existence in 2013,” he told the committee.

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