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More than 500 county healthcare workers have downed their tools.

The workers under the umbrella of the Kenya National union of Nurses (Knun) said that they would only resume duty after their demands are met.

All levels three, four and five hospitals including dispensaries located in far flung parts of the vast county remained, deserted for the third day running.

The most affected by the strike are pregnant women at the Uasin Gishu and Huruma hospitals.

Expectant mothers in labour were turned away by guards at the gates of the two hospitals.

They asked the women to go to Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) or private facilities due to lack of medics to attend to them.

“We are not allowing any patients here because there are no medics to attend to them. Better take your patient to MTRH or Eldoret hospital,” a guard at Uasin Gishu hospital told a man from Munyaka estate who had brought his expectant wife.

Kleen Kimutai, the Uasin Gishu Knun branch secretary, said the two levels of governments should not expect them to offer quality health care services to the public on an empty stomach.

The unionist accused the county and national government of taking too long to address their demands, thus leaving them with no option but to withdraw their services and fight for their rights.

Speaking to the media after leading the healthcare workers on a peaceful protest in Eldoret town, Kimutai asked the concerned authorities to hire nurses who are under the Universal Health Coverage programme on permanent and pensionable terms.

He complained that the UHC nurses have not been paid for the last five months.