Kiambu County residents who sought medical services at the Kiambu histrict hospital were stranded for hours as the hospital staff went on a go-slow over delayed July salaries.
The go-slow started after doctors claimed that the county government has not remitted their July salaries. This lack of pay has purportedly stopped all services at the hospital.
Mary Wangui, a guardian to a patient admitted at the hospital, complained that the relative had not been attended to for some time, forcing them to transfer the patient to a private clinic.
“I brought a patient here who was involved in an accident over the weekend. It is sad that up to today, they have not yet attended to him. We are not aware for how long this situation will persist,” said Wangui.
She added that hospital attendants are only handling first aid cases with laboratory related issues being referred to other hospitals with claims that the lab is not functioning.
“The hospital is only handling patients who need first aid while laboratory tests are being referred to external services. The doctors claim that the lab is out of order and we cannot access the services,” she said.
This is the second case where doctors have downed their tools due to salary delays, with Pwani hospital having paved the way.
The doctors in Kiambu district hospital have given the county government a two-week ultimatum to release their salary, failure to which they will be forced to completely abscond duties and seek legal action.