Busia Deputy Governor Moses Mulomi has pleaded with the striking clinical officers and nurses to resume duty as their grievances were being addressed.
Speaking after a meeting with the health union officials at Busia County Referral hospital Tuesday evening, Mulomi who is also the acting Health Executive Committee Member expressed the county’s commitment towards addressing the grievances raised by the workers adding that most of the issues raised were supposed to be handled by the National government.
“We still appeal to the striking workers and clinical officers to return to work as their issues are being addressed,” he said.
At the same time, he instructed all other health workers who had not issued strike notice to report on duty including doctors, laboratory technologists and UHC personnel.
“Most of our health facilities have not been offering services since the nurses and clinical officers went on strike. We will ensure that the available personnel are assigned to Sub County hospitals and Busia County Referral hospital,” he said.
The official further stated that the government has since commenced plans to set up a unit that will have a minimum of 10 beds at Busia to handle cases of health workers as was requested by their union representatives.
Busia County Kenya National Union of Nurses representative Isaiah Omondi and his Clinical Officers union counterpart Abdul-raziq Juma however said that they do not have authority to call off the strike.
“We do not have the authority to ask our members to return to work considering that the strike was called by our national leaders,” said Juma.
By Salome Alwanda
