Efforts by striking Mombasa health workers to seek audience with Governor Hassan Joho hit a snag yesterday, after they were denied access to his office.

The medics held peaceful protests from the Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital, along the Digo and Nkrumah roads to press Joho’s administration to accede to their demands. 

They were, however, blocked by security personnel manning the entrance to the governor’s office.

This is even as the strike that entered week 12 continued to paralyse access to health services at public health centres in the county, forcing vulnerable residents to contend with  costly services offered by private hospitals.

Attempts to find a lasting solution between their employers failed, as the county government maintained it had no money to settle the workers demands. The medics claim the county has continued to turn a deaf ear  to their plight.

According to the Kenya  National Union of Nurses Mombasa chapter secretary, Peter Maroko, a meeting held on Tuesday last week between the nurses, clinical officers and laboratory  technicians ended prematurely as their employer failed to show commitment. 

“We are disappointed that the county government was quick to address the plight of doctors and ignored our genuine concerns.

This is discrimination and profiling of nurses who do the bulky work,” said Maroko.

 Franklin Makanga, Kenya Union of Clinical Officers (KUCO) Mombasa branch secretary said despite the strike, the government had continued to ignore their concern amidst the biting Covid-19 pandemic wrath.

The over 700 nurses, 165 clinical officers and 171 laboratory officers are demanding among other demands, the remittance of statutory deductions that the county has failed to commit.

“We will not be intimidated. If our demands are addressed, we will continue with strike, as simple as that,” said KUCO Mombasa branch secretary Frankline Makanga.

According to Maroko, the medics are also demanding Covid-19 risk allowances, compensation for members who succumb to Covid-19, group life insurance as well as implementation of pending promotions for qualified members.

Kenya National Union of Medical Laboratory Officers Mombasa chapter secretary General Moses Maingi said their statutory remittances have not been remitted for the last four months.