By Kituku Mutinda
COGWU-K has demanded investigations into the violence and warned that it may mobilise its members if no action is taken
The County Government Workers Union of Kenya has issued a seven-day notice demanding action over an attack on clinical officers by goons during a demonstration in Wote Town, Makueni County.
The clinical officers were marching to Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jnr’s office on September 8 to present a petition when they were confronted by goons opposing their strike.
The goons assaulted some of the clinical officers and demanded that they return to work, claiming that the county government had already addressed their grievances.
Among those opposing the strike was Makindu resident Zainab Taabu, who said patients had been left without medical attention.
“We have seen young mothers deliver on the streets without medical attention, and the governor has paid them, but they are not giving services to the community,” Taabu said.
Wote resident Hussein Idi also urged the clinical officers to resume work, saying the continued withdrawal of services placed patients at risk.
“We are surprised people are demonstrating even after their grievances have been addressed by the governor. These are people ready to kill our county and our people,” Idi said.
But today, John Sila of the Kenya Union of Clinical Officers condemned the attack, saying the counter-demonstration had interfered with rights protected under Article 37 of the Constitution.
“We cannot be denied the right to exercise Article 37 of the Constitution. We are led by a governor who is a senior lawyer; it cannot happen that persons beneath him can go to Makindu, gather goons and come to attack us,” Sila said.
He called for those responsible to be identified and prosecuted.
According to Sila, members of the same group had previously issued statements targeting clinical officers, who have been on strike since July.
Residents later intervened and escorted the clinical officers to the county offices, where they were received by county officials.
Makueni Chief Officer for Health Dr Harvey Mulei apologised to the officers over the incident.
In a statement dated September 9, the County Government Workers Union of Kenya’s Makueni branch condemned the violence and called for an independent investigation.
The union said the Kenya Union of Clinical Officers and the Kenya National Union of Nurses had notified local security authorities about the planned demonstration but were allegedly not provided with adequate protection.
It asked the National Police Service and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations to establish who organised, financed and participated in the attack.
It also called on the Independent Policing Oversight Authority to investigate whether police officers failed in their duty to protect the demonstrators.
The union further alleged that a mobile phone was stolen during the confrontation and asked investigators to determine whether any criminal offences had been committed.
Among its other demands, COGWU-K asked the Makueni County Public Service Board to review an advertisement dated September 4 seeking medical workers on contract at Makindu Sub-County Hospital.
The union said the recruitment should not be used to undermine continuing labour negotiations.
It also called on Governor Kilonzo to publicly condemn the violence and ensure that workers can exercise their constitutional rights without intimidation.
COGWU-K said it could mobilise its members and pursue lawful industrial action in solidarity with the affected health workers if its concerns were not addressed within seven days.
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