Turkana County government has promoted 841 health workers after holding lengthy discussions with the Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN) over delayed promotions.
This was confirmed by Turkana County Health Chief officer, Roberts Abok, who noted that the move was aimed at career progression for the healthcare workers.
"The promotion is part of the county's commitment to enhance staff retention and attract the best workforce from all over the country," he stated.
Abok noted that the process began in May 2020 when the individual applicants filed for promotions.
County Health Executive Jane Ajele echoed Abok's sentiments adding that the beneficiaries of the promotion exercise were part of a second lot after doctors received promotions a month earlier.
The development comes after healthcare workers from various hospitals within the County downed their tools and marched along the Lodwar-Juba (South Sudan) highway on Tuesday, December 1.
The protests interrupted transport services.
The National Chairman of the Kenya Union of Clinical Officers, Joseph Chebii, fronted the healthcare workers' issues noting that the county government had breached the law by not following through with the promotions as provided by the Public Service Act.
"The County Government had refused to promote staff including those who had remained in the same position for over six years, leaving them disadvantaged for losing their years of service and hardwork," Chebii noted.
Healthcare workers have recently been at loggerheads with the government, especially due to the Covid-19 pandemic that exposed the soft underbelly that is our healthcare system.
Some of the issues the healthcare workers have raised include comprehensive medical covers and provision of Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs).
This has seen sections of healthcare workers from various public hospitals marching to the streets to force the government to take seriously their plight.
