Clinical officers accuse government of laxity in ending strike

Secretary General for Kenya Union of clinical Officers, George Gibore, addresses the press in the company of other Unionists, in Kisii town, Kisii county. 29/05/2024

Strike

Clinical officers in the Nyanza region have declared they will not relent on pressurising the government to improve their working conditions and dared the government to sack them if it felt it was appropriate. Addressing the press in Kisii town, Kisii County, they accused the government of laxity in coming up a workable return to work formula just like it did with the doctors who called off their strike recently.

The Secretary General for Kenya Union of clinical Officers, George Gibore said that with the Universal Health Care staff among others medics who had joined them, they had resolved not to relent and accused the government of not willing to finalise on their CBA which started in 2017, despite the government facilities being grounded by the ongoing strike.

Citing various previous strike and negotiations since 2019, Gibore urged the government to meet their end of bargain on the CBA including to set aside money for risk allowance totaling Sh900m per year.

Accusing the employer, especially the county government of disobeying a court order to get to the negotiation table in 2023, Gibore urged the employer to desist from victimising them as per the court order of 9th may this year and not to execute any disciplinary measures informed by virtue of the ongoing strike including show course letters, stoppage of salaries and arbitrary transfers among others.

He accused the employer of discrimination and what he termed as over taxation on their meagre salary rendering their lives miserable and prone to mental illnesses. He appealed for employment on permanent and pensionable terms as a gesture to reward them for what they underwent during the covid 19 pandemic and provide medical cover for them too.

National Deputy Secretary of the Union Austin Oduor said the strike will continue until their demands are met.

He said they will not engage on anything less with the county governors considering that they see 99 percent of patients, and are also custodians of anesthesia for surgery patients who are now forced to seek services in private hospitals. He urged the government to play its role otherwise the total paralysis in the health sector will continue.

Victor Bwanchete, Vice secretary for the Union’s Kisii branch accused the county government of allegedly using students to attend to patients during the strike. He called for employment of more qualified people with a better renumeration package.

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