A nurse based in Homa Bay reportedly committed suicide by hanging himself in his house on Sunday, January 31.
The Standard reported that Evans Odhiambo who worked at the Ngodhe Island dispensary had not shown any signs that something was amiss.
The deceased had been employed to work under the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) scheme in May 2020 and was working under the county government.
Homa Bay County Health Executive Richard Muga said the nurse was dedicated to his work, and had not even joined his colleagues in the ongoing health worker's strike.
“The health officer attended to patients up to the last moments before his death,” Prof Muga said.
According to Philip Sang, Mbita Sub-county Directorate of Criminal Investigation (DCI) Commander, the nurse did not leave behind a suicide note, adding that they are yet to establish why he may have taken his life.
“We are conducting the investigations to unearth circumstances surrounding his death,” Sang’ said.
The nurses strike is still ongoing after a meeting between the health CS, Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN) officials, Kenya Union of Clinical Officers and the Ministry of Health failed to yield any fruits.
The road to reaching an agreement with the county governments was strained after the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) maintained that it is only the commission that had the legal standing to adjust salaries in the country.
“It’s very unfortunate that while we are told to play by the rules as the unions, the government entities treat the law as if it is an inconvenience to them,” KUCO National Chairperson Peterson Wachira commented.
The strike continues to paralyze health services in the country with an agreement between the nurse and the government taking too long.
