- With the 14-day strike notice now in effect, the healthcare workers have made it clear they are no longer willing to tolerate empty promises and half-measures.
- The potential strike has left the county on edge with the prospect of a complete shutdown of healthcare services looming large.
Image: KNA
Healthcare workers in Kisii County have issued a 14-day strike notice, threatening to bring the county’s healthcare system to a halt if their demands are not met.
The nurses, doctors, and other medical staff are adamant that they will only return to work if they receive official letters of promotion, without which the strike will proceed.
The healthcare workers have outlined a list of grievances that have been reportedly ignored by the county government. At the heart of their complaints is the issue of delayed salaries.
Some workers claim they have not been paid in over two years, many are struggling to survive, unable to afford basic necessities.
Adding to their frustrations is the lack of career advancement.
The healthcare workers say they have not been promoted since 2019, a situation that has left them feeling stagnant and underappreciated.
For many, the hope of progression in their careers has been crushed, leaving them stuck in the same roles for years.
This has been a sore point for doctors and nurses who believe they deserve recognition for their hard work and dedication.
Another major concern for the healthcare workers is the arbitrary transfer of staff members, particularly from Kisii Teaching and Referral Hospital without any clear rationale or consultation.
These sudden transfers have disrupted the lives of healthcare workers and created instability in the delivery of healthcare services.
Some have been moved to remote areas with little notice, uprooting their families and lives. The workers feel these transfers are not only unjust but also harmful to patient care.
Another grievance is violence against medical personnel, with reports of harassment and physical attacks while on duty.
The lack of safety with poor working conditions such as overcrowded facilities and inadequate equipment has left many medical staff disillusioned and fearful of their wellbeing.
"We are expected to work under extremely difficult circumstances, our safety and well-being are constantly at risk as if our lives don’t matter," a clinical officer said.
The healthcare workers have described the Kisii County Government as a 'hostile employer', accusing it of failing to respect their rights and dignity.
They said they deserve to be treated with the same respect and care they offer their patients.
Secretary of the Kenya National Union of Nurses in Kisii Moses Riang’a expressed his frustration with the county government’s inaction.
He said many nurses have left Kisii due to poor working conditions and low pay, exacerbating the dire shortage of healthcare workers.
Riang’a said the county is in need of at least 1,000 additional nurses to fill the gap left by those who have resigned.
"The situation is critical. We have made it clear as a union that if our demands are not met, we will go on strike and the healthcare system in Kisii will collapse," Riang’a said.
The situation has been made worse by the non-payment of statutory deductions such as pension contributions and insurance, despite these being reflected in the workers’ payslips.
Many healthcare workers have been left without their entitled financial security, those who have raised concerns have reportedly been met with intimidation and threats of dismissal.
The fear of being fired has left many workers feeling trapped, unable to speak out against the injustices they face daily.
With the 14-day strike notice now in effect, the healthcare workers have made it clear they are no longer willing to tolerate empty promises and half-measures.
The potential strike has left the county on edge with the prospect of a complete shutdown of healthcare services looming large.
Kisii Teaching and Referral Hospital could be forced to halt operations, leaving thousands of patients without care.
Smaller clinics and health centres already struggling with staff shortages would likely face closure.
Kisii is still grappling with the long-term effects of the hard economic times, any disruption to healthcare services could have catastrophic consequences for public health.
Vulnerable populations such as the elderly, children, and those with chronic illnesses, would be hit hardest by the strike.
The county’s ability to respond to medical emergencies would be severely compromised.