Meru County clinical officers have staged protests following unpaid salaries for December. The medics claim that the move was aimed at pushing for the release of their 105 colleagues over a strike that ended earlier this month.
According to Mr. Moses Baiyenia, the county secretary-general for Kenya Union of Clinical Officers, among those affected are 4 who were on maternity leave and 15 who were on study leave.
Mr. Baiyenia termed the non-payments as appalling after they had ended the strike as per the orders by the Employment and Labor Relations Court. Mr. Baiyenia revealed having written to the Meru's Health Chief Office Kanana Kimonye and the payroll manager Ms Sabina Gatumi seeking an explanation and demanding the salaries as well.
"We are still waiting for an answer from the concerned as to why only 65 out of 177 got their pay. We cannot understand the issue of missed salaries even after having complied with the court orders. We shall meet in January over the same," Baiyenia told the media.
In November, the County government initiated talks with the branch officials alleging poor workforce management, with a deficit of up-to 300 medics, and demand for officers' promotion.
However, the talks hit a wall following the nationwide strike for the medics call from the national office. Through its lawyer Mr. Ken Muriuki, the county government is now calling upon a conciliation committee appointment directive by the court to revive talks afresh.