Governors blame health staff strike on State cartels

By ERIC LUNGAI

KENYA: Governors have accused the national government of being behind the health workers strike that crippled operations in public hospitals for close to two weeks.

Council of Governors Chairperson and Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto linked the health crisis to cartels in the Ministry of Health, who don’t want the health services to be devolved as they have been profiteering from the sector.

We know that there are Afya House mafias who want health services to be returned to the national government so that they can continue stealing resources that are supposed to help mwananchi at the grassroots. That I can tell you for a fact,” Ruto said.

The county bosses, who were speaking during a thanksgiving ceremony for Vihiga Governor Moses Akaranga at Munugi Primary School,  expressed their disappointment over what they termed as an attempt by the Government to sabotage implementation of the 2010 Constitution.

Those present included Deputy Governors Caleb Amaswache (Vihiga) and Kizito Wangalwa (Busia), Vihiga Women Representaive Dorcas Kedogo, MPs Yusuf Chanzu (Vihiga), Charles Gimose (Hamisi) and Wilbur Ottichilo (Emuhaya).

Mr Ruto, however, said the governors would not sit back and watch the Government interfere with roll-out of the new law.

Inciting workers

“Why are some people fighting so hard to have administration of health services return to Nairobi when the Constitution says clearly they are among the services that should be devolved? Doctors are being incited by some individuals in the national government and we will not sit and watch,” Ruto said.

Mr Akaranga said he was compiling a list of health workers absconding duty and will soon forward it to the national government so that they can be posted elsewhere as he employs his own staff.

“It is unfortunate that doctors, who are among the highly educated members of our society, are now misinterpreting the Constitution. I wonder what will happen when other ministries will be devolved. As governors, we will have to take tough decisions to save devolution,” he said.

Trans Nzioa Governor Patrick Khaemba said they will do everything within their powers to ensure devolution works.

He said governors should “let striking health workers go” and employ new staff.

“Doctors have really humiliated poor Kenyans for no apparent reason. We should create  a means of acquiring basic healthcare as soon as possible,” he said.