Good news for Kakamega workers following Barasa’s assurance
The 2,200 Kakamega County grassroots workers will have their working conditions improved to enable them to deliver efficiently.
The workers, who consist of Community Health Promoters (CHP’s), Community Women Empowerment Programme (CWEP’s), Community Area Council (CAC) and Kazi Mashinani employees, will have their working conditions considered by the County Government of Kakamega.
Speaking in Malava during the public engagement forum, Kakamega County Governor Fernandez Barasa assured the workers that starting next year their working conditions will be up to standard to positively impact service delivery to the people.
The Community Health Promoters, totalling 540 in number, through their chairperson Reuben Songa, had requested for the issuance of drugs to treat before referring patients to the nearest health facility, replacement of their outdated mobile phones, provision of enough bicycles to ease mobility, settling of their stipend arrears especially this festive season, and harmonisation of their salaries by both the county and national government.
They stressed that there were varied and unknown high deductions from their salaries, with some earning between Ksh 1,500 and Ksh 1,700 from the initial stipend of Ksh 2,500, but they could not relate to the deductions.
They also cited mobility as a stumbling block to their efficient service delivery, considering that they were the ones on the frontline at the grassroots level to respond to emergencies.
“We were sponsored with only 43 bicycles and we are a huge team of over 500. We need more of these to help us move and reach out to as many emergency cases as possible, and this should be accompanied with drugs as many of us have completed the integrated case and management course, hence we are allowed to administer and treat common ailments without necessarily referring the patient,” he assured.
The Community Youth and Women Empowerment Programme (CY-CWEP) hailed the governor for starting the programme as it has uplifted the livelihoods of women within the county.
Through their representative, Mama Judith Salome, the workers stated that the county grants to them had been a plus, and many of them, who are 350 especially women, promised to stand by the governor’s second term as the county chief.
On his part, Recha Jackson, representing the Kazi Mashinani programme, assured the governor that his team of 350 was fully supporting his second term in office as well as David Ndakwa for the Malava seat through the broad-based agreement.
Jackline Sasala, representing the Community Area Council (CAC), expressed their dismay since, after being appointed, they have done nothing for the last six years, and their appointment letters have expired, leading to their stipend stopping.
They stated that they wanted their appointment letters renewed, stipend revived, and to be registered to SHA as other workers in the county.
They also called for facilitation to address their five key (CAC) chambers: health, education, roads and agriculture, which affect grassroots residents and need serious attention.
Due to lack of facilitation, the Community Area Administrators (CAS) and ward administrators have been unable to meet them.
Governor Barasa, while reacting to the raised concerns, started by assuring Community Health Promoters that their contract will remain intact next year since they have attained training, and he will talk to the Health CECM to ensure they are given drugs. Regarding the phone replacement, he said he will talk to the National Health Minister Aden Duale to ensure that a placement in the next financial year to purchase new phones for the CHP’s is factored in.
The governor also confirmed that he was aware that there were arrears and directed the Chief Officer to ensure that by next week the promoters receive their dues.
He further promised to pay for all the CHP’s medical cover (SHA) as they were a necessity in the county health sector.
Barasa also confirmed that by next year the CHP’s will be given enough bicycles to assist them in traversing the county.
On CY (CWEP), he assured them of their contracts being renewed in the next cohorts as they had done a tremendous job, especially at the leadership level.
He further told Malava (CAC) that the county will quickly address their grievances and their appointment letters will be renewed and they should start working so that his office can receive reports on the status of the five key chambers whenever the governor visits.
“I will arrange for a meeting with you just after this by-election and we will plan on how best we can work to improve development in our county as you are our grassroots opinion shapers. And through the community, ward and sub-county administrators here, when you have your meetings include our (CAC) team.”
