Paralysis looms in hospitals across 40 counties after medics issue strike notice over salary arrears

Patients in at least forty counties risk being condemned to death or be forced to seek healthcare services in private facilities at exorbitant cost if medical practitioners make good their threat to boycott work in coming days over delayed payment of salaries.

Already, medical unions and associations have issued a seven-day strike notice.

“It should worry Kenyan of goodwill that over forty counties have neither paid health workers salary nor remitted statutory deductions, Counties that shall not have paid should not expect health workers to report on duty.” A quick dispatch to newsrooms reads in part.

The Kenya Healthcare Union (KHU) has recommended that the government should establish a mechanism to pay health workers from a central point.

The union also highlighted that 10 years since the health function was devolved, no proper framework has been established to ensure healthcare services function efficiently and effectively.

“We have had numerous blame games between national and county governments concerning finances, drug and equipment acquisition, and employment of healthcare workers which have led to the detriment of the healthcare service delivery.” They added.

They also decried that they have been condemned to similar fate the civil servants are grappling with who are yet to receive their March their salaries amid a worsening economic situation in the country

Yesterday, President William Ruto was categorical that the government will not borrow money to pay public servants wages even as he insisted that the situation is under control.

Speaking during the launch of the release of the report on evaluation of performance of ministries, state corporations and tertiary institutions, the head if state indicated that the government will source for its own funds through taxes and other means.

“I know we have an issue of delayed salaries; it is the first time this has happened but also it is the first time we are having such monumental debts. We are not borrowing money for recurrent expenditure including salaries.” The president noted.