Representatives from the Kenya Environmental Health and Public Health Practitioners’ Union, the Kenya National Union of Medical Laboratory Officers, the Kenya National Union of Pharmaceutical Technologists, and the Kenya National Union of Nutritionists and Dieticians joined Meru County officials during the signing of recognition agreements with the county government at the Meru County headquarters.
Speaking at the county headquarters, representatives from the Kenya Environmental Health and Public Health Practitioners Union said they had gathered in Meru for the signing of recognition agreements between the county government and several unions.
The delegation was led by the union’s National General Secretary and CEO Brown Ashira, who described the event as a major milestone for public health practitioners and praised the county administration for engaging unions through dialogue.
“Today we were in Meru together with other fellow leaders from other unions on a very important occasion which is the signing of a recognition agreement between our unions and the County government of Meru,” said Ashira.
The officials described the agreement as historic, claiming Meru had become the first county in the country to sign four recognition agreements with trade unions at the same time.
The remarks were accompanied by chants from public health practitioners, who praised Governor Mutuma M’Ethingia and applauded his administration for what they termed as support for healthcare workers.
Ashira said the signing reflects a governor who values service delivery and cares about the welfare of workers in the health sector.
He added that the unions were optimistic that the agreement would improve working conditions and strengthen cooperation between county workers and the administration.
“For sure it is historic because for the first time in this country we are having a county sign four recognition agreements with trade unions in this country. That is why we are very happy with Governor Mutuma,” said Ashira.
The union officials said Meru County now has stable leadership, with practitioners chanting slogans in support of the governor while praising what they described as a listening administration that prioritizes dialogue over confrontation.
Ashira further claimed that Meru would not witness strikes under the current administration because the county government leadership has shown willingness to engage workers and address their concerns before disputes escalate.
“Meru is on the top of the mountain and we as the public health union say that there is no day that you are going to witness a strike in Meru,” said Ashira.
Meru County Secretary David Baariu said the signing of the recognition agreements has established a proper channel for consultations and negotiations between unions and the county government.
He noted that Governor Mutuma’s administration believes in dialogue and listening to workers rather than engaging in endless disputes.
Baariu said the County government recognizes the role played by public health officers, especially in preventive healthcare and protecting communities from disease outbreaks.
He added that the agreement is an indication that the county administration intends to maintain better working relations with healthcare workers going forward.
“When dialogue takes place it ends in agreement. This shows that Governor Mutuma places the aspect of dialogue before anything else and is a listening governor,” said Baariu.
Edited by John Majau
