MPs accuse governor of mistreating health workers
Busia Governor Sospeter Ojaamong during an interview with Sunday Nation in his office. Leaders in Busia have accused Governor Ojaamong of mishandling the health crisis in the county that has led to the death of three patients. PHOTO | JACOB OWITI | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- They termed the decision by the governor to sack over 1,000 health staff, who were on strike, a sign of incompetence and high handedness.
- Governor Ojaamong, while sacking the workers Monday, accused them of absenteeism and theft of drugs at hospitals.
Leaders in Busia have accused Governor Sospeter Ojaamong of mishandling the health crisis in the county that has led to the death of three patients.
They termed the decision by the governor to sack over 1,000 health staff, who were on strike, a sign of incompetence and high handedness. The strike enters its thirteenth day Saturday.
MPs Ababu Namwamba (Budalangi), Athur Odera (Teso North) and Godfrey Odanga (Mathayos) accused the county boss of downplaying the health crisis.
“We are dealing with a very incompetent county government that everybody is complaining about. Instead of purporting to sack health staff, the county should focus on ensuring they solve infrastructural problems and address drug shortages in hospitals,” said Mr Odera.
Mr Namwamba supported the health workers.
“Health workers are just demanding their rights. We are with them fully on this. Let them soldier on with the strike until their demands are addressed,” said Mr Namwamba.
Mr Odanga said: “The County should try as much as possible to solve the stalemate because innocent people are suffering.”
Governor Ojaamong, while sacking the workers Monday, accused them of absenteeism and theft of drugs at hospitals.
The health workers have been protesting lack of promotions, equipment, better pay and non-remittance of contributions to insurers and the retirement authority.
“Despite increasing the budget for drugs from Sh120 million to Sh350 million, the health sector is still underperforming,” said Mr Ojaamong’ in defence of his decision.
On Wednesday, the county government advertised positions for 558 medical staff who included medical officers (16), dentist (2), clinical officers (72), registered nurses (376) and Kenya enrolled nurses (92).
“So far, we have received 109 applications and others are still being received,” he said.
The county government Friday went to the Employment and Labour Court in Kisumu seeking orders to have strike declared illegal.
But the MPs said the fact that Mr Ojamong has not engaged in a discussion was a show of high handedness.
The county health chief officer, Dr Asoka Itur yesterday maintained that they will hire new workers “to serve as a lesson to those on strike”.
