Union threatens to sue Nakuru governor for terminating contracts of clinical officers

Kenya Union of Clinical Officers (KUCO) chairperson Peterson Wachira (centre), flanked by other officials, after addressing a press conference in Nakuru town on Wednesday, July 5, 2023, after a meeting with the county government. [Joseph Kipsang, Standard] Kenya Union of Clinical Officers (KUCO) has threatened to sue the governor of Nakuru, Susan Kihika, if she does not renew the contracts of health officers which expired last month. Union chairperson Peterson Wachira said they want the contracts of those who left renewed because those who replaced them are inexperienced, and unable to offer services to patients are required. The union has given Ms Kihika one week to renew the contracts or face legal action. The ultimatum came amid claims of negligence and poor services in public health facilities at Molo and Elburgon sub-county hospitals. Wachira accused the county government of failing to follow the law when recruiting new health workers. The official, who spoke at the Nakuru Level Five Hospital where they had sought an audience with the facility's management, said the dignity of health workers must be respected. "We have visited the hospital's outpatient, and I can tell the situation there is chaotic because the clinical officers who previously worked at the facility were terminated. Those who have been hired are inexperienced. They cannot manage and this is disadvantaging patients," said Wachira. Matters of health He added: "The situation at the facility is worrying. The county government needs to get serious, especially when it comes to handling matters of health." Nakuru Level Five Hospital declined to renew short-term contracts for 589 health workers and instead recruited another group that has taken up roles. The county's director of communication Bernard Namunane said on Wednesday he was unable to respond to the matter and referred The Standard to the acting County Secretary Samuel Mwaura and CEC for health Jackline Osoro, both of who did not answer phone calls or respond to text messages. Most health technicians and clerical officers at the county's health facilities have been serving renewable short-term contracts of between three and six months. Recently, the county government decided not to renew the contracts of more than 500 health workers on the grounds it needed to evaluate their performance, check their documentation and harmonize salaries. But it has emerged that the government entered into new contracts with another set of workers, who began work on July 1, allegedly without advertising the positions as required in law. Nakuru Governor Susan Kihika when she appeared before the Senate Committee on Public Investments and Special Funds Committee at KICC in Nairobi on July 4, 2023. [Boniface Okendo, Standard] "The challenges facing contracted workers cut across all the cadres. This has inconvenienced the workers so much. We supported the governor when she said she wanted to harmonize terms of employment and that all the health workers would be employed on permanent and pensionable terms. However, we are surprised at how fast things have changed. Instead, the health workers are being replaced," Wachira said. He dismissed the claim that the governor is trying to streamline the health docket saying; "If that is the case, why did she go ahead to employ workers without advertising the positions as required by the law?" Wachara blamed the stalemate on alleged interference which he said is the root cause of the mess in the county's health sector. Only 88 nurses and one pharmacy officer were retained from the previous lot. Wachira accused the county government of discriminating against some health officers even as a shortage continues to persist. "This trend where health workers are employed on contract will eventually plunge the county's health sector into a major crisis. No specialist will be willing to get into that kind of arrangement," said Wachira. Many skilled personnel Ms Rose Masta, from the nurses' union in Nakuru, lamented that Nakuru Level Five Hospital has lost many skilled personnel, which is compromising services. "Let us not be selfish. Instead of appreciating nurses for the work they have done, including fighting Covid-19, we are terminating them. This has pushed a number of them into depression," said Masta. Ms Mary Boniface, the national treasurer of KUCO, said: "Healthcare sector cannot function without the health officers." Mrs Boniface said employers are disengaging the workers rather than lobbying for more to improve service delivery. "We are calling for Ms Kihika to reinstate the workers."

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