By Obegi Malack
obegimalack@gmail.com
Kajiado County Universal HealthCare staff have accused the National Government for failing to pay their salaries for six months.
The workers who staged a protest in Ministry of Health headquarters Afya House said they have been suffering for long and no one has come to their rescue.
The staff leaders had issued a notice on 6th November 2020 directing the employees across the county not to report to their work stations until their salaries and arrears have been full paid.
A worker who sought anonymity said they have not been able to meet their basic needs and they have been reporting to work everyday.
“Since we got employed we have been depending on well-wishers and we work for the government,” said the health worker. He said the county government of Kajiado has also not been of help and they have been giving empty promises.
He said they have been camping in the Ministry headquarters for days and the government has not solved their issues.
The UHW were contracted for three years to support other health workers in preventing the spread of the Covid-19.
The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) have also issued strike notice over the withdrawal of special perks offer to medical staff in their fight against Covid-19.
The state had offered over Sh3 billion allowances in April to motivate the medical workers.
More people continue dying of Covid-19, on Monday 18 people died with 559 new infections in a sample of size of 3,074 tested in the last 24 hours.
Health CS Mutahi Kagwe said counties should ensure there is oxygen in hospitals.
He said he held a meeting with health workers and discussed issues to do with their safety at work, how they will protect themselves from Covid-19. Other issues to do with allowances will be solved by different departments
“The unions have a right to issue notices for strikes but this is not the right time am appearing to them to consider the situation, but we will continue to engage them,’’ he said.
The CS called on Kenyans to follow health regulations to stop spread of Covid-19 virus.