Health staff vow to reject being paid by cheque

Kisumu, Kenya: The doctors and nurses in Kisumu have threatened to boycott their salaries to protest proposed system of payment by cheques.

In an effort to tame ghost workers and reduce wage bill, the county plans to have all its employees physically collect their January pay cheques at designated locations.

In a letter signed by the county secretary, all county staff would be required to produce original national identification cards, first letter of appointment, and current letter of appointment as well as latest copy of pay slip when they present themselves for their pay cheques.

County officials say the drive was aimed at "filling the gaps identified by the biometric assessment of workers done late last year".

The health officials, however, said they would boycott their January salary to protest proposal by the county government.

Through their union officials, they said the content of the letter was in contradiction to the designated pay points as contained in the official payment statement.

"The proposal is against our professional ethics. How do you distribute salaries under a tree or in a social hall?" wondered Maurice Opetu, deputy general secretary ofKenya National Union of Nurses.

He said the decision to pay the workers by cheques in public places was in contradiction to the Employment Act.

"According to the agreement that we signed with our employers, it was stated very well that the salaries will be challenged to our accounts," said Mr Opetu.

Erick Ondieki, secretary of Kenya Clinical Officers Union, cited the case of members who were away on sick leave or study leave.

The county spends Sh3.5 billion on salaries every financial year.