Machakos Governor Wavinya Ndeti has vowed to sack all striking health workers in the county over the continued downing of tools despite the Employment and Labour Relations Court in Machakos ordering them to return to work.

Speaking in Mwala constituency, the governor said all medics were obliged to obey the court order that was issued last Friday suspending the strike.

“I am telling the doctors that we now work as per the law. I respect you but you have abused that respect. I have obtained a court order compelling you to return to work or else I sack you,” a furious Wavinya declared.

The governor said her government had fulfilled all the doctors’ demands including a premium medical insurance cover and effecting promotions of numerous medical staff but the doctors still remained on strike.

The court sitting in Machakos on Friday directed the doctors, clinical officers, laboratory technicians and public health officers to suspend their on-going strike and return to work pending interpartes hearing set for tomorrow (Wednesday).

The governor directed the Chief Officer in charge of Medical Services, Justus Kasivu to crack the whip on medical officers who abscond duty.

Patients’ suffering

Briefing journalists on the ongoing strike, the lower Eastern chairperson of the doctors’ union, Dr Charles Okumu, said their members will continue with the strike until their demands are met, notwithstanding the court orders.

“My appeal is for county government to resolve the issue so that the patients can stop suffering,” Dr Okumu said.

He said the union has issued a strike notice to the county government demanding promotions which he claimed was long overdue, insisting they would not succumb to threats until the government meets their demands.

“Despite the strike notice, the county government has not taken any serious action towards ensuring patients do not suffer. It is very disappointing that despite having a Memorandum of Understanding, we are still where we were three years ago,” Dr Okumu added.

Local leaders in the county have appealed to Wavinya to urgently resolve the crisis urgently so that health services can resume.