Kericho Governor Dr. Eric Mutai has directed the county nurses participating in the ongoing nationwide strike to resume duty, warning that the county government will advertise their positions and recruit new nurses if they fail to return to work immediately.
Dr. Mutai said the county government could not allow disruption of health services to continue indefinitely, noting that residents depend on public health facilities for essential medical care.
He said nurses who resume duty would continue serving in the county health system, while those who declined to return to work risked losing their positions as the county moves to fill the resulting vacancies.
The Governor said the ongoing industrial action was a national dispute affecting nurses across all 47 counties, with the issues involved being addressed by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC), the Council of Governors and the Ministry of Health.
“The county had continued providing services through clinical officers, doctors, consultants, laboratory technologists, and pharmacists who had remained at work despite the strike.” Siad Dr. Mutai.
The Governor assured residents that outpatient services remained operational across the county and urged them to continue visiting their nearest public health facilities, where doctors, clinical officers, laboratory technologists, pharmacists, and other healthcare workers remained available to provide medical treatment and essential services.
“The county’s doctors and consultants remain available to provide clinical services, including operations, maternity care, and treatment for children and other patients,” Dr. Mutai added.
He cited Kericho County Referral Hospital, Kapkatet Hospital, Londiani, Sigowet and facilities in Ainamoi among those where services had continued, adding that the municipal health facility in Kericho town was also operational.
Dr. Mutai pointed out that the county government had also continued investing in infrastructure and equipment to expand healthcare services and improve the quality of care available to residents.
He said Kapkatet Hospital had benefited from the completion of theatres and other facilities, with the county working towards equipping and upgrading the hospital to strengthen its capacity to provide higher-level services.
Dr. Mutai further assured that the county was also strengthening pharmaceutical services, with medicines set to be distributed to Level Two and Level Three facilities to ensure patients could access treatment closer to home.
He commended healthcare workers who had continued reporting to duty during the strike, particularly doctors, clinical officers, laboratory technologists, pharmacists and other staff who had helped keep public health facilities operational.
By Kibe Mburu
