More than 100 health workers in Baringo County downed their tools today protesting over Governor Benjamin Cheboi’s administration of withholding their allowances.
The workers held a peaceful procession in Kabarnet Town before heading to county headquarters where they demanded to be addressed by Governor Cheboi who was however not in the office at the time.
According to the Kenya Clinical Officers Association branch chairman Francis Chelobei, the government reneged on a promise to ensure that all medical practioners get hardship allowances saying those working in Eldama Ravine were hard hit.
“Our colleagues wonder how they can work without any allowance and also their morale is down because the government has failed them,” said Chelobei.
He stated that their colleagues in Kilifi, Bomet, Kwale and Garissa counties are benefiting from the health services allowances.
The chairman said that most of the works in health facilities are done by the health workers compared to nurses and doctors. They cited disparities in job group earnings and lack uniform allowance as their main cause of concern.
Meanwhile, the workers promise that they will continue attending to patients and offering their respective services despite the hitch.
County director Health Department Abakalwa Garishom promised the health workers that the county government will use everything within their reach to see to it that the concerns raised by the health workers are addressed.
However the county Director Public service board Paul Chesang said that the job disparities will be addressed once an MOU is drafted concerning the same so that it will be treated as a common challenge.
