This archive report was first published on 16 June 2020.
Healthcare workers in Vihiga County have been left in the dark after being sacked without pay. The 115 workers were ordered to vacate their workstations in December 2019, leaving behind unpaid salary arrears of Sh49.45 million, according to records.
The affected employees were part of the 518 health workers employed on permanent and pensionable terms by the previous County Public Service Board. However, Governor Wilber Ottichilo investigated staffing irregularities in the health department and sacked at least 308 of them in November 2019.
Despite being reinstated by the Labour Relations and Employment Court in Kisumu, the 115 workers were recently ordered to leave their workstations without pay. The Kenya National Union of Nurses (Knun) has vowed to take the matter to the Labour court to seek redress.
According to Dr Richard Boiyo, the Acting Chief Officer for Medical Services, and Mary Anyiendah, the Public Health Acting Chief Officer, the action was sanctioned by the county hiring authority.
