Machakos medics threaten to go on strike over county's failed promises

Patients in Machakos County may not be able to access medical services in public health facilities after doctors and clinicians announced they will go on strike from Wednesday next week.

The health workers had issued a two-week notice, but to date they say the county has not addressed key issues they have been advocating for the past two years.

They are advocating for specialists across all cadres to be redesignated appropriately and promoted, implementation of a return to work formula and provision of a comprehensive medical cover for all the health workers before the move to the Social Health Authority (SHA).

Addressing the media at the Machakos level five hospital, Dr. Charles Okumu the chair person KMPDU Eastern region blamed the county government for ignoring their demands, stating that this neglect has led to doctors who are due for promotions performing tasks that do not match their job description.

He warned patients including those from neighbouring counties who depend on health services from Machakos County that they will not be attended to since their employer has refused to take care of their issues. 

His colleague Bonface Mitambo, Machakos chair of Kenya Union of Clinical Officers and the National deputy Chair said from Tuesday midnight, services will grind to a halt as they will advice their members to down their tools if the county will not have addressed their demands, including promotions, redisignation and provision of a comprehensive medical cover.

They stated that after two years of unproductive boardroom meetings with the county to discuss their Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), they have reached their limit.

Donald Mutiso, Secretary General of the Kenya Environmental Health and Public Health Practitioners Union, asserts that they have been using their own resources to address public health issues within communities saying this effort is crucial for disease prevention at the village level faulting the county for failing to provide adequate transportation mechanisms.

Machakos Governor Wavinya Ndeti urged the public service board to promptly work on promotions.

Machakos county Secretary Muya Ndambuki confirmed receiving the doctors' strike notice saying they have engaged the doctors and accused them of failing to cooperate.

He urged them to halt their strike and engage the county.