Nurses’ strike begins

Crisis is looming in the health sector as nurses from 11 counties in the country have downed their tools after the governors failed to implement the return-to-work formula that was signed in 2017.

Over 2000 nurses have vowed not to return to work until their needs are attend to.

The counties affected by the nurses’ strike are: Elgeyo-Marakwet, Kitui, Kisumu, Kisii, Nairobi, Nyeri, Nyandarua, Taita Taveta, Trans Nzoia, Wajir and West-Pokot.

According to the Secretary General of Kenya Union of Nurses (KNUN) Seth Panyako, the county bosses of the mentioned counties have not shown commitment to make a deal with the nurses to convince them not to strike.

“From Monday midnight the nurses from the 11 counties will withdraw their services from healthcare facilities, until the county governments implement the return-to-work formula we signed,” said Mr Panyako.

More counties are expected to join the nurses’ strike throughout the month of February as Kiambu, Homa Bay and Marsabit will face the health crisis from 6th.

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Garissa, Kwale, Embu, Samburu and Kirinyanga counties, together with nurses at Mathari hospital and those working at the Ministry of Health secretariat will strike on 11th.

Additionally nurses from Nakuru, Siaya, Muranga and Busia counties will strike on 18th of this month.

“The reason as to why we are having the strikes on different dates is because the return-to-work formula was signed at different dates,” explained Mr Panyako.

The KNUN secretary general noted that only three counties; Mombasa, Migori and Machakos, have fully paid their nurses the allowances they were demanding.

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A total of 24 counties will be affected by the strike as 15 more counties have shown commitment to pay the nurses their demands.

The nurses are demanding uniform and service allowance, promotion and right placement.