Medics in Meru have issued a 14-day strike notice to the county government over a failed return-to-work agreement from September 2023. Despite their leniency towards Governor Kawira Mwangaza’s administration, they expressed frustration and feeling taken for granted.
Leaders Nesbit Mugendi of the Kenya National Union of Nurses, Moses Baiyenia for Clinicians, and Mugambi Bakari for Pharmacists and Nutritionists stated that the agreement was supposed to be implemented starting April 2024.
They claimed that the necessary funds were to be included in the 2024/2025 budget estimates, but the county has not yet allocated the money.
“We want delayed salaries to be deposited to medic’s accounts. We want remittance of insurance funds. We expect these grievances to be met in 14 days failure to which were will close all health facilities in this county,” Mugendi said.
They also demanded the employment of more staff, to meet the World Health Organization guidelines and health standards.
“The last time the county government made promotions was in 2017 during Governor Peter Munya’s reign. We demand promotions for staff who have remained in the same job group for more than 10 years.”
Baiyenia questioned the administration’s priorities, saying construction and painting of toilets should not take precedence while lives of patients are at risk due to lack of drugs and staffing.
“We had very big expectations with governor Mwangaza. We are disappointed and frustrated. We are exhausted from being overworked. We are in financial distress,” he said.
Several maternity wards have closed down after specialists in the facilities exited, the pharmacists’ representative said.
“We were told to wait until July. We are tired of empty promises. Our people should not blame us because we are demotivated,” Mugambi added.
Adding his voice, KMPDU Secretary General Upper Eastern, Timothy Muriuki, said poor working environment and understaffed hospitals were their biggest challenges.
