Governor Evans Kidero orders hiring of health workers to replace those striking

Nairobi governor Dr. Evans Kidero. [PHOTO: STANDARD]

By GEOFFREY MOSOKU and WILFRED AYAGA

NAIROBI, KENYA: Nairobi governor Evans Kidero has directed the County Public Service board to hire new medics to replace those who are on strike.

Kiidero ordered the board and the county’s Human Resource department to immediately recruit 60 doctors, 47 clinical officers, 436 nurses, 12 radiographers, 20 lab technicians, 12 pharmacists and 15 anesthesians. 

“We have tried to engage the health workers but only a few have been reporting and I am now directing the county health services to recruit the officers to replace those who have deserted duties,” he said.

He said this action was necessitated after health workers countrywide entered the eight day of their strike to oppose plans to devolve them and asked those qualified to report immediately for deployment.

“Those who have qualifications should report immediately to the medical superintendents at Mama Lucy Hospital (Dr. Ogato), Pumwani (Dr.Omondi) and Mbagathi district hospital (Dr. Sule). Let the people do the applications and report immediately,” the governor said.

The governor indicated that all the medical staff on strike will be dismissed once they recruit their replacements in the best interest of Nairobians.

“Obviously if you have walked away from duty and when you return there is someone in your office, we can only take you on board where there is demand,” he said adding that in spite of the ongoing negotiations between the medics and the government, the county will not stop hiring the new staff.

Dr. Kidero was speaking yesterday at the city county chambers after meeting the county’s health chiefs to seek means of mitigating the effects of the ongoing strike that has seen both Mama Lucy and Mbagathi hospitals closed.

The Nairobi county boss told the medics that, in spite their strike, the devolution of health services cannot be stopped as it’s provided for in the constitution.

“The issue is a legislation one and the constitution of Kenya under schedule four devolved health service and we can’t reverse that unless the law is changed which will of course take time and we will not allow our people to suffer.”

Dr. Kidero said that the county government cannot sit and seen its residents suffering with deaths recorded in various facilities as the strike bites.

The doctors and nurses have vowed to carry on with their strike and vowed to ground operations in public hospitals to protest the transfer of health services, including payment of their salaries, to counties.

Last week, talks held at the Kenya School of Government seeking to avert the crisis, hit a deadlock after both sides stuck to their hardline positions.

Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentist Union secretary general Sultani Matendechero said they will not call off the strike, until their demand to have devolution of health services properly handled is met.