Private health facilities in Nandi County are witnessing an influx of clients following an ongoing strike by healthcare workers in the County that started on Monday.
Hospitals including Real, White Crescent, MEWA and St. Fransisca Mother and Baby Hospital have reported a significant increase in patient numbers, benefiting from the absence of functional public health services.
Patients who spoke to the Kenya News Agency (KNA) expressed their frustration with the county government, lamenting that they were suffering because the demands of the healthcare workers have been overlooked.
Many residents, especially those in far flung rural areas, have been left without access to affordable healthcare services, which has sparked outrage among the public.
Religious leaders in the region, led by Bishop Paul Korir of the Kapsabet Anglican Church of Kenya have also raised concerns about the situation, calling on Governor Stephen Sang to urgently address the issue, stating that patients were suffering and the state of health facilities, especially the Kapsabet County Referral Hospital, is deplorable.
“We call upon the governor and the CEC for Health Ruth Koech to find a practical and workable solution to bring health workers back to work. The current situation is not sustainable and the continued silence from the county leadership is deeply troubling,” he said.
Bishop Korir emphasized that the church would not remain silent while the people of Nandi suffered from a lack of access to essential health services.
He urged Governor Sang to prioritise the welfare of healthcare workers, who have for long complained about poor working conditions and delayed salaries, and to ensure that the people’s health and well-being are prioirtised.
“The governor must not view this as the end of his term, but rather an opportunity to serve with passion, compassion, and grace in honour of the trust that the people of Nandi have placed in him,” Korir stated.
As the strike drags on, the situation continues to deteriorate, with many fearing that vulnerable citizens, particularly those in need of urgent medical care and without money to pay at private hospitals, will bear the brunt of the crisis.
So far, the county government has not issued any statement addressing the strike or outlining steps to resolve the dispute with the healthcare workers, leaving many to wonder how long the crisis will continue.
By Linet Wafula
