The Kenya National Union of Nurses Bungoma branch Secretary Mr. George Barasa has today Thursday 01 July 2021 announce the beginning of the health workers strike following delays in Salaries. Barasa informed the public at a presser that since serving the County Executive a strike notice on 24 June 2021 they have not been reached by any govt official prompting them to effect the notice. He indicated that health workers will only resume upon receipt of salaries for the two months.
Prior to today’s press statement… Bungoma County Health Workers held a Salary parade on Monday, 22 June 2021 to demand for their delayed May salaries as well as push for timely release of June salaries. The parade was advised by a notice published on Thursday, 17 June 2021 by KUCO Secretary Ekisa Ambuchi Jr informing Bungoma County Secretary and the County Public service Board that members of the Unions caucus namely; KUCO, KNUN, KNUMLO, KUNAD, KNUPT and KHPS intended to hold a 3-day salary parade from 21/6/2021 to 23/6/2021 at the County offices to agitate for the payment of salaries.
Press statement LIVESTREAM; https://web.facebook.com/586721326/videos/328881575447908/
On Monday, 21 June 2021 Health Workers gathered at Bungoma County Referral Hospital (BCRH) pediatric wing to start their march to County Executive offices only to be stopped midway by Police citing Covid-19 protocols. Attempts by the Union leadership to prove to the Police via headcount that only 46 health workers were in participation did not bear any fruits bringing the march to an anticlimax.
ikuweikuwe.com is reliably informed that some of the union leaders then opted to quietly visit the County Assembly to get answers from the Speaker Hon. Emmanuel Situma who informed them salaries were with the executive and that its squarely upon the executive to release the salaries without further delays… in the meeting it was discovered that money meant for May salaries had been diverted to pay contractors
Health workers indicate that Pay-slips had timely been uploaded on GHIRS as a confirmation that salaries will be earned but money is not wired. The May salaries were uploaded on 18th May 2021 while the June salaries were uploaded on June 17 2021 in a move seen to dupe the system but no money gets to employees accounts.
The salary parade was to run for 3 days but the leadership revised their plans retreating to a meeting held on 22 June 2021 in adherence with the Police wishes but there were high chances that a strike notice would then be issued.
Health workers who are exposed to all sorts of health dangers are a worried lot since NHIF which the county remittance is in arrears cannot cover them should the worst happen to them… In short they are unable to access the basic needs they themselves are offering.
