Embu Governor Cecily Mbarire has denied claims that healthcare workers are owed salaries, as former Senator Lenny Kivuti blamed the county government for recurring industrial action.

Using Facebook on Monday, July 27, 2026, Mbarire said all processed salaries had been paid according to county payroll schedules. She described reports of salary arrears or delayed payments as false and misleading.

“For the avoidance of doubt, there are no salary arrears or delays owed to healthcare workers by the County Government of Embu,” Mbarire said.

The governor accused unnamed political actors of exploiting healthcare concerns for political gain.

She said her administration remained committed to recruitment, staff promotions and improved medical facilities.

Kivuti faults county leadership

Kivuti said doctors, nurses, clinical officers and other healthcare workers had repeatedly protested over delayed salaries and poor working conditions.

“When our healthcare workers are frustrated, demoralised and struggling with delayed pay and poor working conditions, it is the people of Embu who ultimately suffer,” he said.

The former senator, who is seeking the Embu governorship in 2027, described the situation as a management and leadership failure.

He promised timely salary payments, improved working conditions and stronger management of county health facilities should he be elected.

His statement followed recent industrial action in Embu. A local media station reported that doctors called off their strike on Friday, July 24, after negotiations with the county government.

The parties agreed to establish a joint committee to address staffing shortages, promotions and other grievances. Normal services were reported to have resumed across county health facilities.

Conflicting accounts over hospital services

However, Mukami Wa Ireri, a resident of Kiritiri in Mbeere South, told this publication that services at Embu Level 5 Hospital were still affected at the time of publication.

The resident could not confirm which groups of healthcare workers were absent or whether the disruption affected the entire hospital.

The dispute comes amid wider labour pressure across Kenya. Clinical officers had issued notice to withdraw their services from July 20 over job grading, gratuity, collective bargaining agreements and the absorption of Universal Health Coverage workers.

Mbarire’s statement addressed salary arrears but did not expressly deny that healthcare workers had participated in industrial action.

The competing accounts leave two questions unresolved: whether all salaries are current and whether services have fully returned to normal.