Hundreds of health workers in Kirinyaga county on Thursday protested outside County Government headquarters seeking an audience with Governor Ann Waiguru.
Led by Dr. Gor Goody, the Central Region Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) Secretary, the medics walked for five kilometers from Kerugoya to the headquarters in Kutus town protesting against poor working conditions.
According to a report by Citizen Digital, the protesters tried to force their way in but Gichugu OCPD Anthony Mbogo and Mwea-East OCPD Dorothy Gaitenga intervened and ordered police officers to lock the county headquarters gate.
The heavy police presence quelled the rising tension, with the protesting medics eventually dispersing after learning that Governor Waiguru was not in her office.
The protest came a day after Waiguru threatened to sack over 1000 striking workers if they failed to report to work by Monday, June 10.
On Wednesday, medics at Kerugoya Hospital downed their tools to protest poor working environment, inadequate staff, lack of clean water among other issues.
Speaking at Kiambatha Primary School grounds in Ngariama Ward, Kirinyaga East sub-county on Wednesday, Waiguru said the court had declared the strike illegal.
“We cannot allow the people of Kirinyaga to continue suffering because of a few people who have refused to obey the court order and want to push their own political agenda,” Waiguru declared.
