Medics Seek Answers Over Two Months’ Salary Delay

Elgeyo Marakwet health workers have demanded answers from the county government over the delay of their two-month salaries.

Mark Kipsang, Secretary General of the Union of Clinical Officers yesterday threatened that they may down tools if they do not receive any feedback.

“Moving forward, I am calling upon all health workers that as from today (yesterday) by 9am if they shall not have remitted our salaries, we will not have any other issue other than to call for industrial action,”  Kipsang said.

He added that they are finding it hard to meet their daily needs and other financial commitments due to the delay.

 “We are parents, we have children who require fees. We have to meet our basic needs, on top of that we require transport to work, rent, water and electricity, which because of the salary delay almost all of us cannot afford,” added Kipsang.

 Secretary also added that the situation has gone to the extent of affecting their reputation as they have been reduced to borrowing money from people including shopkeepers and mama mbogas, which they are unable to repay as they try to make ends meet.

“All these have affected our morale even before our families because, how can you go on surviving on credit? To secure even basic commodities?” Kipsang asked.

 Union leaders have since called upon the incoming administration to dialogue with the health workers and listen to their grievances and ideas to enable effective service delivery.

“I am calling on the governor-elect to sit down with us so that we can talk and see how we can improve our relations and working conditions as we do not want patients to suffer,”  he said.