A health workers strike is looming in Meru after union officials accused governor Kawira Mwangaza of ignoring their demands.
Health workers’ unions officials have threatened to lead all medics in a march to the county headquarters if she doesn’t have a meeting with them soonest.
The unions include Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN), Kenya Union of Clinical Officers (KUCO), Kenya National Union of Pharmaceutical Technologists (KNUPT) and the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Union (KMPDU) According to the officials, several attempts to have a meeting with the governor have been frustrated by her handlers since September last year.
This they said has led to rejection of their proposals for allocation of monies in the 2023/3034 budget for promotions and replacement of retired and deceased workers.
“During the campaigns, governor Mwangaza implored us to terminate a strike promising to ensure money is allocated for promotions. We voted for her hoping that she would keep her promise.”
“However, since she was elected, our attempts to secure a meeting with her have failed. On Wednesday, we were thrown out of the office,” KNUN Meru branch chairman Mugambi Bakari said.
In their petition to the county assembly, the health workers unions had called for promotion of more than 900 nurses, clinical officers and doctors who have stagnated for more than 10 years.
But the county assembly postponed the promotions to 2024/2025 financial year citing a hefty wage bill.About Sh183 million is needed annually to promote the 933 workers.
The Pharmaceutical technologists union had also called for an allocation of Sh12.7 million for their promotions.
“If the governor does not meet with the unions, the workers are ready to start paying a visit to the county headquarters once every week to confirm from her whether they will be promoted or not,” Bakari said.
KUCO branch Secretary General Moses Baiyenia said more than 300 health retired workers are yet to be replaced leaving them overworked.
“There are 67 facilities with only one nurse and not more than 30 health centres have a clinical officer. This has left many of us overworked because they are alone in their stations. Some of us are now considering securing jobs elsewhere, where their services are valued,” Baiyenia said.
Meru County Secretary Kiambi Atheru said the county executive was aware of the demands raised by health workers but they cannot afford the costs.
“We are aware that health workers need promotions but we urge them to give us some time to audit the wage bill. Currently, 51 percent of the budget goes to payment of salaries.”
“We have started an audit that will look into ghost workers, unnecessary employment by past regimes and fake academic papers,” Bishop Atheru said.
He said the wage bill audit will be ready in three months.
