Return to work or face the sack, Wavinya tells medics

Machakos Governor Wavinya Ndeti wants medics to obey a court order that suspended the strike. [File, Standard]

Machakos Governor Wavinya Ndeti has threatened to sack all health workers who are on strike.

Speaking in Mwala on Sunday, the governor said all medics must obey a court order that was issued last Friday suspending the strike which started last Tuesday.

“I respect you but you have abused that respect. I have obtained a court order compelling you to return to work or else I sack you,” the Governor declared.

Ndeti said her government had fulfilled all the demands by the doctors, including a premium medical insurance cover and effected pending promotions of several medical staff.

She directed the Chief Officer for Medical Services Justus Kasivu to crack the whip on medical officers who boycott duty.

The warning by the Governor came even as her deputy Francis Mwangangi and Machakos Senator Agnes Kavindu blamed the strike on the national government’s failure to remit county funds.

Addressing mourners in Matungulu Constituency, Mwangangi and Kavindu called on the national government to disburse county funds to avoid the suffering of innocent citizens.

According to the Deputy Governor, the county government had not received any money from the national government in the last four months.

“We are staggering with many things not implemented because of lack of funds,” said Mwangangi.

He urged the striking health workers to allow the governor to explore alternative means of addressing their grievances.

The Deputy Governor also asked the striking workers to obey the orders.

Senator Kavindu said the county government should come up with a permanent solution to the frequent strikes by healthcare workers.

She also challenged the county government to fulfill promotion and salary agreements reached with the health workers.