Arise Media 
BY RITA MUTHONI
Health services at Embu Level 5 Hospital and other health facilities in Embu County have been brought to a standstill as health workers went on strike, demanding the county government implement neglected return-to-work agreements.
On Monday, health workers marched through the streets of Embu, carrying placards and chanting anti-Mbarire government slogans, aiming to petition the county secretary.
Cecily Mbarire is the current governor of Embu County.
The strike, led by union leaders, highlighted the county’s ongoing disregard for previously signed agreements addressing their grievances.
Alloucios Njoka, Secretary of the Clinical Officers Union, criticized the Embu County government for belittling health workers by ignoring their grievances.
“The county has continuously neglected our agreements, particularly regarding pending promotions for all cadres,” said Njoka.
He noted that despite an agreement last year to address these promotions, the Embu Public Service Board (EPSB) has ignored their obligations.
Njoka pointed out that an agreement to prioritize contract-based employees for permanent positions has also been disregarded.
“Instead, the EPSB has advertised these positions, forcing current contract employees to compete anew. As clinical officers, we just resumed work after an eight-month strike, only to be back on the streets for the same issues,” he added.
Jennifer Nguru, Secretary-General for the Kenya Environmental Health and Public Health Practitioners Union (KEHPHPU), criticized the county government for advertising public health officer positions despite having nine contract-based officers who have served for nearly a decade.
Nguru emphasized the need for more public health workers to reduce mortality and morbidity rates in the county.
Rose Mukami, a representative from the Nurses Union in the County, condemned the county’s favoritism towards certain cadres over others.
“Nurses have been working diligently alongside other health workers, but our efforts remain unrecognized,” she stated.
Mukami highlighted the difficulties in career progression under the county government and urged fellow health workers to seek opportunities in other counties if they arise.
“We need to ensure that those who are directly serving patients are the ones being employed,” she said.
The county government has yet to respond to the striking workers’ demands.
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