Taita Taveta Governor Granton on November 18, sent all the clinical officers employed in local public hospitals packing, after they defied an order to return to work following a strike.
According to The Standard, the officers had downed their tool on November 1, demanding better pay and promotions.
Health CEC Daniel Makoko noted that all the 85 medics had already been served with dismissal letters.
“We negotiated a return-to-work formula with their union on October 1, they, however, declined to report to work. That is why we fired them," stated Makoko.
Makoko sent warning shots to the nurses, who were also on strike, to go back to work or face a similar fate.
The county government had also obtained a court order directing the clinical officers to get back to work but they still defied it.
“We obtained the court order on Friday (November 15) directing nurses and doctors to resume work. Those who defy the order will have themselves to blame,” Makoko warned.
County Assembly Majority Leader Jason Tuja and Nominated MCA Christopher Mwambingu added their voices to the sentiments, claiming that the health workers had no reason to be on strike.
“They should not be striking. The pay they are demanding has been factored in the supplementary budget we recently passed,” stated Tuja.
Mwambingu revealed that in the supplementary budget, Ksh300 million had been allocated for the health department.
