After two weeks of disrupted healthcare services, Siaya County has finally turned a new page — thanks to the decisive leadership and firm commitment of Governor James Aggrey Bob Orengo. The Governor’s administration successfully brokered a return-to-work agreement with health sector union officials, effectively ending a strike that had paralyzed operations in all public health facilities across the county.
The breakthrough, achieved after four rounds of intensive negotiations, underscored Governor Orengo’s steadfast dedication to dialogue, good governance, and people-centered leadership. The conclusive meeting was chaired on his behalf by the County Executive Committee (CEC) Member for Governance, ICT and Administration, CS Agunda Ochanda, and attended by CEC for Health Dr. Martin Konyango, Health Chief Officer Dr. Samuel Omondi, Acting County Attorney Leonard Okanda, and Deputy Director of Human Resources Perez Ogonyo.
Representing the health unions were KUCO Branch Chairman Collins Ouma, alongside national union leaders Peterson Mwaniki, George Gibore, Vincent Akelo, and laboratory representatives led by Isaac Owuor.
Following hours of candid, solution-oriented deliberations, both sides agreed on a series of resolutions addressing the main grievances that had triggered the strike. Key among them include:
Timely Salary Payments: The County Government committed to ensuring all health workers are paid by the 5th of every month, starting September 2025, reinforcing Orengo’s administration’s pledge to prioritize worker welfare.
Promotion Letters: Pending promotions will be processed expeditiously once the unions provide the verified lists of officers eligible for advancement.
Statutory Deductions: Arrears accumulated between December 2024 and April 2025 will be cleared within three months, ensuring compliance and transparency.
SRC Third Party Deductions: The County Government will settle these within three months, following supplementary budget approval by the County Assembly.
Career Progression Guidelines: Implementation will be completed by January 30, 2026, to align with exchequer requirements and budgetary provisions.
This agreement follows a series of high-level engagements personally led by Governor Orengo, who had convened earlier meetings on Friday and Saturday last week to seek a lasting, consensus-driven solution. In his remarks during those talks, the Governor appealed for mutual trust and open dialogue, emphasizing that constructive engagement — not confrontation — is the path to sustainable progress.
“Let’s talk candidly, with open hearts and with utmost good faith. I’m convinced that a solution will be found in time to avoid any loss of life or service disruption,” Governor Orengo said, urging all parties to uphold constitutional channels for addressing grievances.
The signed agreement further establishes a joint dispute resolution mechanism, designed to manage future concerns collaboratively and prevent disruptions in the essential health sector.
With this milestone, Siaya’s healthcare system is poised to regain full functionality, reaffirming Governor Orengo’s unwavering commitment to Universal Health Coverage (UHC) under his visionary Nyalore Administration.
The Governor has made healthcare transformation a cornerstone of his development agenda — focusing on equitable access, staff motivation, and infrastructural improvement. His government has already overseen major upgrades at Siaya County Referral Hospital and continues to roll out initiatives aimed at strengthening service delivery across all sub-counties.
The joint committee noted that while issues concerning staffing expansion and UHC rollout were not part of the strike notice, they remain integral to Governor Orengo’s broader healthcare blueprint and will be pursued through ongoing reforms and budgetary planning.
The resolution of the strike marks a resounding victory for dialogue, empathy, and responsible leadership — values that continue to define Governor Orengo’s administration. With normalcy returning to all public hospitals, Siaya residents can once again access vital medical care under a leadership that listens, acts, and delivers.
“Our goal is simple,” Governor Orengo has often said. “To make Siaya a county where every citizen can access quality healthcare — affordably, reliably, and with dignity.”
That vision, once again, is back on track.
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