This archive report was first published on 26 July 2021.
Published on July 26, 2021, a Senate committee meeting in Kenya's Vihiga County shed light on the county's financial struggles and the plight of its health workers.
The county's budget for the 2021/22 financial year was suspended by the High Court in Kakamega following a petition by former County Secretary Francis Ominde and political activist Joseph Simekha.
The petitioners raised concerns about the county government's intentions to use the budget and claimed it was never approved by the Cabinet.
During the Senate committee meeting, chaired by Senator Rose Nyamunga, the long-standing salary dilemma of over 500 health workers was brought to the forefront.
Kenya Union of Clinical Officers, Vihiga chapter official, Walter Andoli, stated that the county had not honored a court order to pay the medics' two-year salaries.
The health workers were recruited in 2019, but their pay was suspended due to unclear circumstances.
Figure: Health workers in Vihiga County in a past demonstration.
