There is no respite for suffering patients in the country as the doctors’ strike entered day 25 on Sunday.
For Thika Level Five Hospital in Kiambu County, the situation has deteriorated after cleaners downed their tools over unpaid seven-month salaries.
This is not the first time the 60 cleaners working under Neru Kenya Ltd have withheld their services over salary delays.
Heaps of unattended garbage had turned the hospital premises filthy while some equipment used in the delivery of medical services was unwashed.
Biashara ward MCA Kennedy Mwangi who addressed the cleaners, said Kiambu County had paid the contractor claims denied by the service provider.
He called on the governor to intervene and change the management of Thika Level 5 led by its superintendent, to streamline operations at the health institution.
In a swift rejoinder an official of Neru Kenya Ltd management, who declined to be quoted, said the county government of Kiambu owes them over one year arrears making it difficult to pay the workers.
Addressing journalists at the parking grounds, the irate cleaners led by Samuel Kinyua and Jackline Naliaka lamented that their bosses have been taking them in circles whenever they demand to know the progress of processing their dues.
They regretted that their landlords locked their houses months ago and some have been forced to seek shelter at the hospital.
Those with school-going children regret that life has been tougher for them as they grapple to meet their daily obligations including paying school fees, repaying loans and feeding the children.
The furious cleaners revealed that despite getting meagre salaries, their employers have been unwilling to remit the dues forcing most of them to become beggars.
Thika Level 5 Hospital’s medical superintendent, Dr Waturi Kivuti, Chief Officer of Health, Dr Patrick Nyaga, and CEC Dr Elias Maina were unavailable for comment despite repeated attempts to reach them.
Antony Kioko
