More than 3,500 health workers at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital have issued a one-week strike notice over allegations of non-remittance of more than Sh3 billion in statutory deductions and a worsening collapse of services at the facility.
Workers’ unions, including the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) and the Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN), said they will down tools starting Tuesday next week to compel government intervention.
Beatrice Chelule from the nurses’ union claimed that the hospital is on the verge of collapse, calling for urgent action to save the institution.
“The patients are desperate, the workers are desperate, and we no longer have MTRH as a functioning hospital,” she claimed.
Chelule alleged that patients are increasingly going without essential care as the hospital struggles to afford critical supplies and services.
Union officials claimed the hospital has failed to remit more than Sh2.5 billion to the pension scheme, in addition to other statutory deductions, bank loans and financial obligations.
“Banks are on our necks, and we can no longer pretend to work while we watch our patients suffer,” Chelule claimed.
KMPDU branch secretary Edwin Rono warned of a total shutdown starting Tuesday unless the government steps in.
He alleged that all attempts at dialogue with hospital management have failed, prompting the strike notice.
“We are telling the President and anyone else who cares that we will shut down everything if our demands are not met,” Rono said.
He said the union will no longer engage in further talks, citing a series of unsuccessful meetings.
Rono claimed hospital management has indicated there are no funds available to address the workers’ grievances.
A Kenya Union of Domestic, Hotels, Educational Institutions, Hospitals and Allied Workers official, Japtheth Keittany, claimed a more than 30 per cent budget cut has plunged the hospital into a financial crisis.
He also cited an acute shortage of more than 1,000 nurses after many left for better opportunities.
“The staff we have are overwhelmed and cannot work effectively, yet management says there is no money for replacements,” Keittany claimed.
He claimed that multiple rounds of talks with management have yielded no solutions.
MTRH Chief Executive Officer Phillip Kirwa said the hospital is aware of the grievances raised and that efforts are underway to find a solution.
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