Kirinyaga nurses dismiss Waiguru’s reinstatement as mere PR stunt

According to the branch union secretary general Karigi, Governor Waiguru did not  reinstate any sacked health worker back to work. 

Instead, Ms. Karigi claims, the county boss paid the 72 health workers who had been working for three years without salaries.

“What  she did is play Public relations stunts the last few days to elections as the issue has become so emotive on the ground,” she said.

Ms. Karigi said Wiguru refused to reinstate 388 health workers whom the Public Service Commission had given a verdict to have them put back to work.

“She is using the group to hoodwink the voters thinking it will salvage her sinking career,” she said.

Speaking on Wednesday in her Kagio home, Governor Waiguru said she had reinstated 72 suspended health workers into the payroll and renewed contracts for 388 others.

She said she had also agreed to pay their salary arrears dating back to 2019, when they had been suspended following a strike.

However, the move was torn into by a section of Kirinyaga leaders, who argued that she is playing politics a few days before the August General Elections, in a bid to retain her seat.

Among them were Chomba Ndau and Wangui Ngirici, who are vying for the governor seat

“It is an insult to the highly educated, well experienced and industrious healthcare staff who had to endure physical, emotional, psychological and economic maelstrom for three years,” Ndau said.

Meanwhile, the nurses union has said the 388 health workers who Waiguru sacked are still in court protesting unlawful dismissal.