Meru County health workers marched to Governor Kawira Mwangaza’s office on Monday, demanding improved working conditions, timely promotions, and the replacement of retired medical officers. The protest, led by the Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN) Meru Branch and the Kenya Union of Clinical Officers (KUCO) Meru Branch, highlighted the increasing dissatisfaction among healthcare professionals in the region.
Nesbitt Mugendi, the secretary of KNUN Meru Branch, expressed the frustrations of many health workers. “Right now we are at the county offices. We do not have so much; we came here to demand our promotion. It is unfortunate that we have arrived and nobody has welcomed us.”
Governor Kawira Mwangaza, known for spearheading the distribution of Community Health Promoter (CHP) kits to Community Health Promoters (CHPs) in November 2023, faced criticism for the unmet demands of the healthcare workers.
“We are certain that we will make ends meet. We are here to confirm whether the promotions are here or not. If we get our promotion letters, we are ready to go back to work today in the evening,” Mugendi stated.
Mugendi also emphasized the critical staffing shortages affecting the county’s healthcare facilities. “We are also demanding the replacement of all medical officers that have retired. We have over 90 facilities that are manned by only one nurse.”
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