This archive report was first published on 3 July 2021.
On July 3, 2021, Isiolo Woman Representative Rehema Jaldesa found herself at the center of a heated confrontation with police at Isiolo Referral Hospital.
The hospital was the scene of a protest by casual staff who had been employed for over 20 years but had not received their salaries for six months.
Rehema Jaldesa, who was at the hospital, told one of the police bosses, 'You cannot threaten me for representing my people, I am doing my job.'
The staff, comprising contracted cleaners and security guards, had staged a protest at the County Secretary's offices in Isiolo two days prior to the hospital protest.
They maintained that they would not resume their duties until their dues were paid and blamed the delays on the company contracted to recruit them.
One of the workers asked, 'Where is our governor, why are we being treated this way as he watches yet during the last elections we voted for him.'
Another worker added, 'I have a house that has to be paid, my children are in school among other needs. The governor should tell us whether or not we are his constituents.'
