Uasin Gishu Volunteer Health Workers Protest Nine-Month Pay Delay, Demand Urgent Action
“We are extremely disappointed by how our county has handled this situation. While other counties have promptly paid their volunteer health workers, Uasin Gishu has left us hanging for months without pay,” said Koech
Volunteer health workers from Uasin Gishu County have today staged a protest at the county government offices, specifically targeting Governor Jonathan Bii’s office, expressing their frustrations over the delayed payment of their allowances.
The health workers claim they have not received their stipends for nine months, despite their continuous service and growing risks due to the nature of their work.
The health workers, numbering around 2,500, are demanding immediate action from the county government, which they accuse of neglecting their welfare. Their leader, Steven Koech, voiced the group’s frustrations, highlighting the fact that other counties have been able to pay their volunteers on time, but Uasin Gishu County has failed to follow suit.
“We are extremely disappointed by how our county has handled this situation. While other counties have promptly paid their volunteer health workers, Uasin Gishu has left us hanging for months without pay,” said Koech. He explained that although the national government has been consistent in its payments, the county government has failed to honor its obligation to pay their arrears.
“This initiative was launched by the President ten months ago in Kericho County, and ever since, we have been waiting for the county to do its part. But to date, we have received nothing from them. How are we supposed to continue working under these conditions without pay?” Koech questioned.
In addition to the unpaid allowances, the health workers also expressed concerns about the lack of proper equipment to perform their duties. Despite being on the frontlines of providing essential healthcare services to the community, the volunteers report working in risky and unsafe conditions due to the absence of basic tools and protective gear.
“How can we serve the community effectively if we don’t have the necessary tools to protect ourselves and the people we are treating? We are risking our lives daily, and the county government seems indifferent to our plight,” said one of the health workers.
The group has made several attempts in the past to address the issue with the county officials, but their pleas have largely gone unheard. “We’ve had meetings, sent letters, and made calls, but nothing has changed. We are tired of empty promises,” Koech added.
The health workers say that if their demands are not met soon, they may be forced to take further action, including downing their tools, which could greatly impact healthcare services in the county.
“Our services are vital to the community, especially with the healthcare system already strained. However, we cannot continue to work without fair compensation and the tools we need to do our job effectively,” Koech concluded.
As the standoff continues, the volunteer health workers are calling on Governor Bii and his administration to urgently address their grievances before the situation escalates further.
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