[Doctors during their recent strike over pay increase. North Eastern counties have received Sh143, 520,000 from the national government for paying doctors] North Eastern counties of Garissa, Wajir, Mandera and Marsabit have received Sh143, 520,000 from the national government for paying doctors and nurses’ allowances.
The combined disbursement now settles dust following threats by doctors and nurses from the volatile region that they will down their tools if the allowance payments are not made.
According to a Health ministry dispatch detailing how much each of the 47 counties will receive, Garissa will receive the lion’s share (Sh52,710,000) while Wajir will part with Sh33,888,000. Mandera received the third highest amount (Sh30,330,000) with Marsabit receiving the least amount (Sh26,592,000).
The money will cover allowance payments for the period January 1 and 30 June 2017 as agreed in the return to work agreement signed by the government and the health practitioners’ union.
There has been a tag of war between the national and county governments on one hand and medics on the other hand over whether the doctors should be paid for the period they were not at work as the strike went on.
Although the doctors argued they rightfully deserved to be paid, government insisted the agreement reached after calling off the strike did not state that the medics be paid.
But it seemed President Uhuru Kenyatta had to play to the doctors’ tune since it is an electioneering period. He announced during his tour of Kiambu County in March that county governments pay the allowances to the medical practitioners.
County governments, however, said they would only disburse the money into the doctors’ bank accounts if the national Treasury released money for the same.
The money will cover payment for additional emergency call allowances, new risk allowances, as well as nursing service allowances for nurses between job group G and L and those above job group M.