Pumwani workers down their tools

By Brigid Chemweno 

Pumwani maternity hospital workers have put down their tools citing heavy workload and salary increment that has not been effected by the government. 

Expectant mothers who had visited the facility to seek medication were referred to Mama Lucy Kibaki hospital for treatment. 

An employee from the facility, who sought for anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the press, told The Standard that the few number of doctors who were in the facility could not manage to handle the number of patients who were present. 

When The Standard visited the hospital, all the wards were closed with no business going on except security guards who were manning the facility. 

A government doctor who spoke with The Standard on phone said they will continue with the strike until their demands are met. 

“Pumwani hospital is a Nairobi County hospital. Nairobi County workers are on strike, this means the hospital is also on strike,” the doctor told The Standard. 

The hospital, which has been offering free maternity from June when the government flung the initiative, was closed on Friday. 

Pumwani Maternity hospital is the biggest maternity hospital in Sub-Sahara Africa, which offers free maternity services.