Medics in different unions have issued a seven-day strike notice to the County governments countrywide, due to unpaid dues. The Kenya Union of Clinical Officers (KUCO), Kenya Health Professionals Society, the Kenya National Union of Medical Laboratory Technologists and the Pharmaceutical Technologists issued the strike notice on Friday and warned the government against delaying the payments to workers.
This comes days after County workers also threatened to go on strike due to unpaid wages. Speaking at a press briefing, George Gibore, the Secretary-General of the Kenya Union of Clinical Officers (KUCO) said many workers in the Counties are suffering, “We are aware that most County governments have subjected our members to untold suffering due to withholding their salaries,” he said, “This delay in timely payment subjects our members and the families to untold, financial, social and emotional hardship which in the long run affects their productivity at workplace.’’
The medics have revealed that they haven’t received the July salaries. The impasse comes in the middle of the revenue allocation standoff between County governments and the national government. With Counties asking for more money to be able to run their affair, the national government hasn’t shown the willingness to release more funds, with President Uhuru Kenyatta urging County bosses to use the money they have well.
Written by Ian Madiavale