About 200 workers who form the 17 cadres from the Kenya Health Professional Society (KHPS) in Busia County marched to Busia Governor Sospeter Ojaamong’s office to present their memorandum.
In the memorandum read by the KHPS chairman Arthur Emari before County Secretary Nicolas Mulaku and Health Executive, Dr. Maurice Siminyu, the workers accused the Salaries and Remuneration Commission of being an impediment to their plight.
“We humbly request your able office through the Council of Governors to compel the SRC to sign the agreement for your effective implementation of the same by the County Service Public Board. This will avert the apathy and discomfort within our members for effective provision of health services. We also request KHPS Busia Branch to meet you, your County Health Management Committee and the County Assembly health committee as a major devolved function,” he said in the memo addressed to the Governor.
Among the demands which await SRC’s signature are the harmonization of health service allowances of Ksh20,000 per month effective 1st January, 2017, health risk allowance of Ksh10,000 per month and a uniform allowance of Ksh30,000 per annum.
The list of cadres who signed the memorandum includes clinical officers, Medical Lab, Pharmaceutical, Dental and Orthopaedics technologists, PHOs, Radiology, Physiotherapists and medical engineers among others.
The Professionals’ secretary Rashid Bwire said they only came to deliver the memorandum and back to work. “We are wondering why SRC has not appended the signature on the document while counties like Kisii and Bomet have already paid their staff.”
Mulaku assured the workers that no cadre will be left out and promised to follow up the matter through the CoG.” I will be in touch with the CEO of CoGs this week to get the latest on the agreement.”
However, the CS told workers not to leave their work stations in future just to deliver a document that their officials could do.
Dr Siminyu told the workers to follow the right channel in future. “I am available wto my team but no KHPS official came to my office to present your grievances. Dialogue makes things happen but not taking to the streets,” he said.