Governors blame gov’t over medics’ strike

The Council of Governors has blamed the national government for all the salary woes in the counties saying workers’ salaries have delayed due to a delay by the national government in releasing county funds.

The governors claimed that the 3-month delay in salaries has put county operations in limbo and some county governments have been forced to use their savings or get overdrafts to pay staff and stop the situation from escalating.

Appearing before parliamentary health committee, governors Isaac Ruto (Bomet) and James Ongwae (Kisii) said governors are also looking for a solution to the health workers’ strike currently ongoing in various counties.

The governors said that they have petitioned Parliament, through the Rachael Nyamai chaired committee, to have the health bill redrafted as it does not recognise the two levels of government.

Meanwhile, striking doctors in Nakuru County have vowed to continue with their strike until the county government addresses their concerns.

Addressing journalists in Nakuru on Tuesday, the doctors, led by Kenya Medical and Pharmacists Dentist Union Board National  Chair  Samuel Oroko and the union’s South Rift secretary, Sitima Oruko, the doctors said that the county government is now threatening to stop their salaries.

Through a memo to the Rift Valley General Hospital, the Nakuru County Government has warned the striking doctors that serious disciplinary action will be taken against them if they fail to return to work.