Mutahi Kagwe Orders Governors to Sack Striking Healthcare Workers

Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe has directed county governments to fire all healthcare workers who are on strike.

Kagwe told Governors to advertise vacancies and urged the more than 8,000 nurses who are currently jobless to apply for the positions.

“The counties should start recruiting new health workers to replace the ones on strike. If the striking workers continue being adamant, the nurses who are at home without jobs should be employed,” he said.

He said the move will help to address the health crisis facing the country at the moment after nurses and clinical officers downed their tools last week with doctors joining them on Monday.

"We, however, wish to continue working with those who are already in the system, we want to agree so that we proceed with the work, that would be a better Christmas. We don't want them to be part of statistic for jobless people next year," said Kagwe.

CS Kagwe stressed that the courts issued orders stopping the strike to give room for dialogue between the government and health workers.

He added that it is wrong for health workers to go on strike during the festive season when many road accidents happen, adding that they should have continued working as the government looks for amicable solutions to their grievances.

“There is a need for health facilities to be ready for any eventuality and this cannot happen if the workers are not in their stations,” said Kagwe.

Healthcare workers are demanding adequate personal protective equipment (PPE), comprehensive medical cover, and risk allowances for those on the frontline fighting Covid-19.