Nurses in Kajiado County who have been on strike since December 7, 2020 in solidarity with colleagues countrywide have called off the industrial action after the county government agreed to meet their grievances.
Led by their union Branch Chairlady Rose Leina, the nurses said they will return to work from today following the signing of a return to work agreement with the county government yesterday.
Ms Leina said the union had held successful talks with the county government and their demands for risk allowance, provision of Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) among other demands would be met.
Addressing the press in Kajiado Wednesday after calling off the strike, Leina urged all county members to report to their work station Thursday morning adding that no one would be victimized for engaging in the strike.
“The strike by nurses in Kajiado has been officially called off. We have signed a return to work agreement with the county government and we will be back to work tomorrow (today),” she said.
Governor Joseph Lenku said his government was committed to providing quality healthcare to all residents and supporting health personnel thus it had resolved to end the stalemate which had left patients suffering for weeks.
Lenku said Kajiado was the first county to enter into a return to work agreement with the striking nurses and urged other Governors to follow suit to end patients’ suffering.
“We have signed an agreement with the nurses and we have resolved the stalemate. We are going to pay them risk allowances as recommended by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC). Nurses will resume work Thursday morning,” said the Governor.
According to the agreement, the county government will pay the nurses Sh5000 risk allowance as approved by SRC with effect from 1st, January 2021. Besides the nurses would be provided with adequate and quality PPEs and no employee would be victimized for engaging in the strike.
By Rop Janet
