Court suspends strike by Homa Bay healthcare workers

The Labour court has ordered Homa Bay health workers to resume work immediately even as the medics appealed to the national government to take over management of all health care services in the county, citing poor management by the county government.

Justice Nduma Nderi temporarily suspended the healthcare workers’ strike, pending hearing and determination of the case, a day after the medics threatened to initiate the process of collecting signatures from residents to dissolve the county government over the mismanagement of the healthcare system.

The Employment and Labour Court in Kisumu issued conservatory orders on Thursday barring striking healthcare workers from carrying on with their industrial action.

The strike has paralysed services in all public hospitals for 18 days now.

The county government of Homa Bay had filed a case against the health workers on Tuesday seeking conservatory orders to stop them from carrying on with the strike, pending hearing and determination of the application.

The applicants also sought mandatory orders directing the health workers to resume work as alternative solutions are pursued in order to safeguard human life.

Union officials, however, have asked the national government to take control of all health services for the sake of vulnerable families that cannot afford health care in private facilities.

On Wednesday, the Kenya Medical Practitioners Pharmacists and Dentist Union (KMPDU) Kenya National Union of Nurses (Knun) Kenya Union of Clinical Officers (Kuco) and Kenya National Union of Laboratory Technicians (Knult) had maintained that their members are still on strike despite calls by the county government to the medics to return to work.

KMPDU Nyanza Chairman Kevin Osuiri accused the county government of intimidation and threats after health executive Prof Richard Muga said his department is planning to sue all medical workers for failure to be on duty.

The doctor’s union had said its members will not bow to pressure from the employer.

“Please send us to the national government if you are tired of us. We are here fighting for our rights yet you threaten us,” Dr Osuri told the county government.

On Wednesday, Governor Cyprian Awiti appealed to the striking workers to go back to work and help save the collapsing health system.

The county chief said he cannot control funds from the National Treasury, which he said have delayed because of the standoff at the Senate on revenue allocation.

“My hands are tired. I cannot pay July salaries unless the Treasury releases money to counties. I have tried my best to take loans from banks to pay June salaries,” The governor said in a radio interview.

Health workers, however, maintained that they will not negotiate on money matters.

Knun acting executive secretary Omondi Onyonje accused the county government of failing to remit their statutory deductions after some health workers were paid net salaries instead of gross payment.

“We are entitled to full salary payment because like all Kenyans, we are able to pay our bills and take care of our families,” Mr Nyonje told journalists.

Knult executive Secretary Odendo Opondo and his Kuco counterpart Philip Mbom asked investigative agencies to probe the whereabouts of their statutory deductions.

“All financial records should be released to the public. We want to be sure of how the county government is utilising its finances. The rot in government should be exposed,” Mr Opondo said.