This archive report was first published on 28 September 2019.
As of September 11, 2019, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital in Kisumu was severely underutilized, with empty hospital beds and deserted wards.
Operations at public hospitals in Kisumu County have been paralyzed for the third week due to a strike by health workers over delayed payment of their salaries.
Security guards at the hospitals have been turning away patients, leaving the out-patient and casualty sections deserted.
According to Omweri Lameck, Secretary of the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) Nyanza Branch, the doctors are protesting the delay of their salaries and the failure to implement the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
Dr. Omweri signed a letter dated September 27, addressed to Governor Anyan'g Nyong'o, advising KMPDU members to keep off work until their grievances are addressed.
However, the governor brokered a deal with the Kenya National Union of Nurses (Knun), which will see nurses resume work on the same day.
Patients who were discharged were referred to private health centers, with some patients expressing shock at the situation.
“Why only Kisumu? How can a whole county turn its back on the suffering of workers and patients?” said a senior doctor who wished to remain anonymous.
Friday, the Standard established that all wards at the County Referral hospital had been closed, with the out-patient department also shut.
At Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital, an eerie silence greeted visitors, with no medics at the casualty department and only two patients in Ward One.
Prof. Nyong'o claimed that the delay in disbursing salaries was caused by the standoff between the National Assembly, Senate, and the counties over Sh316 billion revenue allocation.
However, county employee Kennedy Onyino questioned the governor's claim, asking, “If the problem is because of the stand-off, where is Siaya, Nyamira, Kisii, Homa Bay, and Migori getting money to pay workers?”
