Security services at Naivasha sub-county hospital were disrupted after two groups clashed claiming to have been contracted by the county to secure the facility.
Two groups of the security firms went for each other, each claiming to have legal documents from the county to offer security services at the busy facility.
Trouble started after the management suspended the services of Stega Security Company and replaced them with another company from Baringo county.
The move sparked protests from local leaders and around 40 guards who are expected to lose their jobs as the management defended the move.
According to Stega Company supervisor Festus Karani, their contract was supposed to run until June when the financial year ends.
He said they were shocked when they reported to work only to find that the management had outsourced services from another company.
“We have not been served with any notice as our contract is still active and 36 guards who work in this hospital will lose their jobs if the takeover is implemented,” he said.
Karani said they would continue working until they served with a notice or their contract is officially cancelled by the county.
One of the workers, Meshack Wanyama said they were in darkness, adding that they had worked in the hospital for five years.
“We reported to duty only to find that there were new guards. We are not moving out as we have not been served with any notice,” he said.
A human rights defender Bernard Macharia questioned the timing of the takeover noting that no tendering process had been conducted.
He said they would be going to court on Monday to block the new company while wondering why the county had to outsource services from a company from Baringo.
“We are asking the governor to intervene as the local youths who voted for her risk losing their jobs at a time when the hospital does not even have a board of management,” he said.
Similar sentiments were echoed by another leader Reuben Gitau who said they feared direct and indirect job losses, adding that no tendering was done.
Speaking on phone, the Superintendent in charge of the hospital Dr Bernard Warui defended the move saying Stega Company contract had ended.
“The management has decided to terminate the contract of Stega Company and there is no tension as the transition takes place,” he said.
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