Migori Deputy governor Mahiri Gimunta and officials from the Kenya Union of clinical officers adress a press after talks to avert strike. Photo:Ian Byron/Ktmn
The Kenya Union of Clinical Officers have averted a looming strike following a truce between the unions officials and the county governmbnet of Migori.
The simmering tension by the health practitioners in the county came to an abrupt hall on Tuesday after the county administration extended an olive branch and opted for talks to avert the industral industrial action and ensure health matters are streamlined in the county.
Migori deputy governor Mr Mahiri Gimunta held talks with the union officials led by chairman Peterson Wachira in his office with key issue being payment of dues to officers culminating from the 2019 industrial action which saw the latter down their tools..
Following the srtike, former Migori governor Okoth Obado opted not to sort the dues owed to the clinical officers promting tem to seek a court order over their dues.
“We will have a team set up to audit and review the payment because some clinical officers were paid and others did not, afterwards we will factor this in the forthcoming supplementary budget,” Mr Mahiri said.
According to the DG, a court case surrounding the legality of the current public service board had hampered the employment of new county staff but they were “keen on employing more clinical officers and push for promotions according to Salaries and Remuneration Commission.
“The board impasse has not only affected clinical officers, but other staffs. We will have recruitment soon,” he said.
Migori has 160 health facilities and only 135 clinical officers employed, showing some hospitals and dispensaries are not staffed.
At the Migori Teaching and Referral Hospital there are only seven clinical officers against at least 30 required while a sub-county level hospital should have about 14.
“This shows that clinical officers are strained and members of the public prefer private hospitals because of long waiting hours,” the Migori Secretary General Morena Maramba said.
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