Drama ensued at Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru’s county premises on Thursday when striking health workers stormed the offices demanding dialogue.
The health workers were, however, repulsed by police officers who were forced to lock the entrance to prevent the agitated group from forcing its way into the offices.
According to Citizen Digital, the police were forced to cock their guns to counter any possible eventuality when the marching cavalry of health workers tried to force its way in, which arose tension at that time.
Led by the Central Region Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) Secretary Dr. Gor Goody, the workers walked for five kilometers to the headquarters in Kutus town from Kerugoya protesting against poor working conditions.
This happened after, on Wednesday, Waiguru threatened to sack over 1000 striking doctors who would not show up at work on Thursday.
“We cannot accept Kirinyaga people to continue suffering because of people who want to push their political agendas,” announced the undeterred Waiguru.
Reports by The Star indicated that the striking medical practitioners, who have been on strike for the past 10 days, stood their ground by maintaining that they would only resume duty once their demands were met.
On learning that the governor was not in her office, the health workers dispersed with the determination to pick up the fight from where they left it.
“We have written many letters to the county government but we are yet to get a reply on our call for dialogue, that is why we came to the county to be addressed by Waiguru but no one has heeded our call,” Goody complained.
The chairman of Kenya National Union of Nurses Joseph Ngwasi, who was also part of the protests, ascertained that health workers would not be intimidated by Waiguru's threat to fire them.
