A clinical officer had his suspension revoked and his salary arrears paid in full after the Commission intervened in a complaint against the County Government of Meru.
According to Moses Mutuma, he was suspended by the County Chief Officer for Health due to an address to a local television station highlighting the plight of clinical officers in the county in his capacity as the Secretary General of the Kenya Union of Clinical Officers, Meru Branch. Mutuma alleged that the county had failed to remit statutory deductions since March 2019 with loan remittance and pensions deductions being delayed for over three months leading to banks threatening to list some clinical officers with Credit Reference Bureaus (CRBs).
Additionally, at the time of raising their grievances, the county had delayed their salaries occasioning them financial challenges. The county government had also failed to train the clinical officers on the handling of COVID-19 and had not provided them with personal protective equipment which are essential in the management of the pandemic.
The decision by Mutuma to highlight the grievances of the clinical officers in the media led to his suspension for gross misconduct and insubordination. However, he was not given an opportunity to appear before a disciplinary panel and address the issues that led to his suspension. His predicament impelled him to lodge a complaint with the Commission.
The Commission took up the matter with the county government prompting it to act. Mr. Mutuma, in a letter to the Commission, confirmed that the issues raised had been addressed by the relevant offices and that he had been reinstated and all benefits paid.
