Nandi County is facing a significant health crisis following the closure of over 144 public health facilities due to a strike by medical workers. The strike, now in its second day, has left many residents struggling to access essential medical services, forcing them to seek treatment in private hospitals and the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) in Eldoret.
Patients who would normally receive treatment at Kapsabet County Referral Hospital and other public health facilities across the county have been turned away. These facilities, which include sub-county hospitals, dispensaries, and health centers, are now non-operational as the strike continues. Health workers staged protests in Kapsabet Town, demanding that their grievances be addressed by the county government.
According to Dr. Shadrack Tanui, Medical Superintendent at Kapsabet County Referral Hospital, the situation is dire, with the facility experiencing a complete shutdown. All medical officers, including clinical officers, nurses, lab technicians, and other healthcare professionals, have abandoned their duties in protest.
Workers’ Grievances
The striking health workers have listed several grievances that have led to the strike. Their demands include:
- Reinstatement of medical insurance coverage.
- Promotions that have been delayed for over eight years.
- Payment of overdue salaries.
- Reinstatement of workers dismissed as “ghost workers” following a countywide human resource audit.
The workers have also expressed concern over the severe shortage of medical supplies, including basic items like drugs and gloves. They argue that these shortages have compromised their ability to provide safe and effective healthcare to patients.
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Nicodemus Chumba, the Chairperson of the Clinical Officers Union in Nandi, emphasized the importance of addressing the workers’ long-standing issues. “We have been working under extremely difficult conditions, without proper supplies or any form of medical insurance. Our promotions have been delayed for years, and we are tired of waiting. Until our demands are fully met, all public health facilities will remain closed,” Chumba said.
In response to the ongoing strike and the growing health crisis, Nandi County’s Deputy Governor Yulita Mitei acknowledged the challenges faced by the health workers. She, however, pointed to the delayed disbursement of county funds from the National Treasury as a key reason for the financial constraints that have affected the health sector.
“We understand the frustrations of our health workers, but the financial difficulties we are facing are due to the delayed release of funds from the National Treasury. Nonetheless, we are working tirelessly to resolve the issue and have initiated talks with the relevant unions,” Mitei explained.
She added that the county government had already paid health workers’ salaries for August and was processing the remaining salaries, with plans to pay by the end of the week. Despite these efforts, the strike continues, leaving thousands of patients in limbo.
Human Resources Audit and Staffing Challenges
One of the major points of contention between the county government and the striking workers is the recent human resources audit, which was conducted in March 2024. The audit, carried out in collaboration with various stakeholders, resulted in the termination of several workers who were identified as “ghost workers.”
The Deputy Governor defended the audit process, stating that it was necessary to ensure transparency and accountability in the county’s workforce. “We conducted a thorough audit to eliminate inefficiencies and ensure that only legitimate employees remain on the payroll,” Mitei said.
In addition to the audit, the county is facing a shortage of healthcare workers. Currently, there are 3,003 employees working for the county government, of whom 1,759 are in the health sector. This includes 568 nurses, with 78 of them employed under the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) program. Mitei reassured that efforts are underway to address the staffing shortages through new recruitment drives.
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“We have prioritized the most affected areas in recent job advertisements, and we plan to continue with this strategy in the upcoming phases of recruitment. A second recruitment advertisement is forthcoming, and we are committed to ensuring that no cadre is left out,” she said.
Shortage of Medical Supplies
In addition to the labor disputes, the county’s health facilities have run out of critical medical supplies, further worsening the situation. Mitei confirmed that financial challenges had led to the depletion of essential supplies but assured the public that measures were being taken to restock.
“We have placed orders for medical supplies with the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (Kemsa), and we are also procuring an additional Sh10 million worth of supplies from local sources,” she revealed.
Despite these efforts, the county’s health system remains paralyzed as the strike continues, with no immediate resolution in sight.
Call for Dialogue and Resolution
Mitei urged health workers to return to the negotiating table, stressing the county government’s commitment to resolving the crisis. “We remain open to dialogue and are committed to honoring the promises we have made, including promotions and other benefits. However, these changes will be implemented in phases due to our current financial limitations,” she stated.
She emphasized that the county government had no intention of engaging in any form of witch-hunt against the striking workers and expressed hope that both sides could work together to find a solution that would restore essential health services to the people of Nandi County.
“Our priority is to ensure that health services resume as quickly as possible. The people of Nandi deserve access to quality healthcare, and we are doing everything in our power to make that happen,” Mitei added.
Ongoing Recruitment Efforts
In the midst of the health crisis, Nandi County’s Public Service Board announced 245 job openings in various departments, including health, administration, public service, and ICT. These positions are being offered on permanent and pensionable terms, signaling the county’s efforts to address staffing shortages and improve service delivery.
An official advertisement on the county’s website, dated Thursday, October 4, outlined the available positions and invited qualified candidates to apply by October 25. The county urged interested applicants to hand-deliver their academic and professional documents to the Nandi County Public Service Board.
The ongoing strike in Nandi County has brought healthcare services to a standstill, leaving thousands of residents without access to medical care. As the strike stretches on, patients are forced to seek treatment in private facilities or travel to nearby towns, adding to their financial burden.
While the county government has expressed a willingness to resolve the crisis, negotiations with health workers have yet to yield any tangible results. With medical workers standing firm on their demands and the county government grappling with financial constraints, the people of Nandi County remain caught in a healthcare crisis with no clear end in sight.
Only time will tell if the two sides can reach an agreement and restore the county’s health system to normalcy.
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