By MN Reporter

Migori deputy governor Gimunta Mahiri met with the Kenya Union of Clinical Officers in talks to avert industrial action and ensure health matters are streamlined in the county.

Mahiri met with the union officials led by chairman Peterson Wachira in his office on Tuesday with key issue being payment of dues to officers following a 2019 industrial action.

During the strike, the county under former governor Okoth Obado decided not to pay clinical officers which prompted them to get a court order over their pay.

“We will have a team set up to audit and review the payment because some clinical officers were paid and others did not, afterwards we will factor this in the forthcoming supplementary budget,” Mahiri said.

Mahiri said after end of court case surrounding the legality of the current public service board, they will employ more clinical officers and push for promotions according to Salaries and Remuneration Commission.

“The board impasse has not only affected clinical officers, but other staffs. We will have recruitment soon,” he said.

Migori has 160 health facilities and only 135 clinical officers employed, showing some hospitals and dispensaries are not staffed.

At the Migori Teaching and Referral Hospital there are only seven clinical officers against at least 30 required while a sub-county level hospital should have about 14.

“This shows that clinical officers are strained and members of the public prefer private hospitals because of long waiting hours,” the Migori Secretary General Morena Maramba said.