MACHAKOS COUNTY DISPELS REPORTS OF UNPAID HEALTH STAFF, BLAMES CONTRACTOR FOR DELAYED WAGES

The County Government of Machakos has refuted claims that some health workers at Machakos Level 5 Hospital have gone for months without pay, clarifying that the affected individuals are not county employees but casual workers contracted through a private firm.

Speaking to the media on Tuesday, the County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Health, Justus Kasivu, dismissed the reports as misleading and aimed at tarnishing the image of Governor Wavinya Ndeti’s administration. He emphasized that all county-employed health workers have received their dues on time and that no salary arrears exist for staff under the official county payroll.

“We wish to clarify that the County Government of Machakos does not have any pending salary obligations for its payroll staff. The individuals whose wages have been delayed are casuals hired by a contractor providing cleaning services at the hospital,” Kasivu stated. “We empathize with them, but the responsibility to pay rests solely with the contractor, not the county government.”

Kasivu further noted that the county government had already fulfilled its contractual obligations to the firm, and investigations were underway to establish why the contractor had failed to pay the workers. He reaffirmed the county’s commitment to upholding fairness and accountability in all its dealings with service providers.

The clarification comes in the wake of concerns raised by the Senate Committee on Health, which toured various health facilities in Machakos last week. While the senators commended Governor Wavinya for spearheading transformative reforms in the healthcare sector, they also expressed concern over the alleged delay in paying cleaners working as casuals at Machakos Level 5 Hospital.

Kasivu took the opportunity to appeal to Machakos Senator Agnes Kavindu to lobby the National Treasury to release funds owed to the county under the Social Health Authority (SHA). He revealed that Machakos County is owed KSh 750 million in pending SHA claims, which, if released, would significantly improve service delivery across health facilities.

“I urge Senator Kavindu to help us push the national government to release the funds due to Machakos. Once we receive the KSh 750 million in pending SHA claims, our health facilities will be in a much better position to serve our people effectively,” he said.

The county government has reiterated its dedication to ensuring timely payment of staff under its payroll and maintaining high standards of healthcare service delivery. Dr. Kasivu assured residents that the county remains focused on building a robust and transparent health system that prioritizes the welfare of both workers and patients.