Marsabit medics accuse county of betrayal as salary crisis deepens
The prolonged strike has left many residents without access to healthcare, worsening the county’s existing drug shortages and overburdening private facilities.
The standoff between clinical officers and the County Government of Marsabit has entered its fourth week, with striking health workers accusing their employer of betrayal over unpaid salaries, lack of medical cover, and unfulfilled promises.
The health workers say they are tired of working under uncertainty and broken agreements, with many now struggling to make ends meet.
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Across hospitals and health centres in the region, services have ground to a halt, leaving patients unattended as the crisis continues.
Speaking in Marsabit town, Kenya Union of Clinical Officers (KUCO) County Branch Chairperson Abdishukri Adan said the situation has become unbearable after going three months without pay.
He said they had earlier suspended a similar strike after signing a return-to-work deal, but the county government failed to implement it.
“Our statutory deductions have not been remitted for more than 20 months, and we have no medical cover,” Abdishukri said, adding that the county administration has ignored repeated pleas to resolve their grievances. He noted that the strike is a last resort after years of empty promises and neglect.
According to the union, the ongoing strike has crippled healthcare delivery across Marsabit, affecting operations in all public hospitals and dispensaries.
The officers are demanding the full implementation of career progression guidelines, long-delayed promotions, and redesignations that were agreed upon in past negotiations.
Branch Secretary Daki Duba said the union has signed two separate agreements with the county government, one in July last year and another in April this year, yet nothing has been implemented.
“We signed the agreements in good faith, first in July last year and again in April this year, but the County Government continues to renege on its word. We will not sign another one in 2025 until all our demands are met. Enough is enough,” he said.
Daki added that their trust in the county’s leadership has been completely eroded. He said calls for yet another return-to-work formula would be meaningless unless past agreements are fulfilled.
KUCO Treasurer Shukri Ibrahim highlighted the personal toll the standoff has taken on their members.
He shared the story of a clinical officer battling stage four cancer at Garissa County Referral Hospital, who has not received any pay since August and has no medical insurance.
The sick officer, Shukri, said, relies entirely on colleagues’ contributions to afford treatment.
Another clinical officer in Laisamis Sub-County is struggling with tuberculosis and cannot afford medicine due to the ongoing salary delay.
“It is painful that those who dedicate their lives to treating others are now victims of a system that has failed them,” Shukri said.
The prolonged strike has left many residents without access to healthcare, worsening the county’s existing drug shortages and overburdening private facilities.
The clinical officers are now urging Governor Mohamud Ali to personally intervene and end the stalemate before the county’s health system collapses.
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