By C, KNA
At least 380 health workers who were recently declared ghost workers by the Siaya County Public Service Board now want the County Assembly to open an enquiry into circumstances that led to their summary terminations.
The health workers, whose contracts were revoked on grounds that they had been irregularly recruited, said the explanation was both unfair and unjustified, given that most of them had already served the county for over eight months without pay.
Led by their representative, Nick Ongoro, the workers have now threatened to stage a peaceful demonstration on Wednesday, September 17, if their grievances are not addressed. They also appealed to Siaya Governor James Orengo to intervene and restore fairness in the matter.
Felix Omolo, one of the aggrieved workers, said the county had acted unjustly by terminating their employment without considering their service and dedication.
“We are appealing to Governor Orengo to intervene and provide a solution that ensures we are paid our arrears for the eight months we have diligently served, and that our recruitment is reinstated. Many of us have families depending on these jobs,” Omolo said.
Another health worker, physiotherapist Ivene Ndeda, urged the County Assembly to probe the circumstances surrounding their recruitment and subsequent termination, arguing that the issue has left many young people in the county stranded without jobs.
“This recruitment debacle has not only affected our livelihoods but has also left gaps in the delivery of healthcare services across Siaya. We need clear answers and accountability,” Ndeda said.
Their representative, Nick Ongoro, questioned the credibility of the County Public Service Board’s explanation that the workers were irregularly recruited. He argued that the county could not claim ignorance after the same workers had been formally deployed across various health facilities.
“How can they say the recruitments were irregular, yet we were serving in hospitals and being transferred from one facility to another under the county’s own management? This shows that the system itself recognized us as legitimate workers,” Ongoro said.
The health workers are now demanding urgent action from the county government and a full enquiry by the County Assembly to address what they described as injustice and betrayal after months of service to the people of Siaya.