By Robert Mutasi 
Health services have been paralyzed in Uasin Gishu County after healthcare workers took to the streets of Eldoret City to protest against what they term as neglect by the administration of Governor Jonathan Bii.
The workers, comprising nurses and clinical officers from across the county, held demonstrations within the Eldoret Central Business District (CBD) on Tuesday, seeking to pile pressure on the county government to address their long-standing grievances.
Dressed in their white clinical coats and blue surgical caps, the agitated workers marched along the busy streets chanting solidarity slogans and waving placards while carrying a huge banner. The banner read: “Kenya National Union of Nurses, Uasin Gishu Branch” and “Demands Better Healthcare Services For All.”
According to the medics, the county government has failed to implement the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) for nurses and clinical officers, a deal that was signed years ago to improve their terms of service.
Key among their demands is the implementation of the Return-to-Work Formula (RTWF), promotion of healthcare workers who have stagnated in the same job groups for years, and the confirmation of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) workers on permanent and pensionable terms.
In placards captured on camera, some read “Implement RTWA Promise Now!” and “No UHC Workers On Contract!” Others demanded better working conditions, saying they are overworked and understaffed in public hospitals.
The workers accused Governor Bii’s administration of ignoring their plight despite numerous meetings and strike notices issued in the past months. They said the current terms under which UHC workers are employed are exploitative, with many earning meager salaries without job security or benefits.
The demonstration, which started in the morning hours, brought traffic to a standstill within Eldoret CBD as the medics danced and sang, demanding to be addressed by county officials. A motorbike rider with a yellow helmet was seen leading the procession.
Patients seeking services in sub-county hospitals and at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) satellite clinics were left stranded, with only emergency services being offered.
The Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN) Uasin Gishu Chapter leadership said they will not resume duty until the county government puts their demands in writing and begins implementation.
Efforts to reach the County Executive Committee Member for Health for comment were unsuccessful by the time of going to press.
Governor Jonathan Bii’s administration has in the past blamed budgetary constraints for delayed implementation of CBAs, but health workers insist that health must be prioritized.
The standoff continues as residents now fear a full-blown health crisis if the stalemate is not resolved quickly.
Eldoret Leo