Homa Bay to hire new nurses as strike bites

Homa Bay County government is contemplating of hiring new nurses on contractual basis to replace those on strike.
The ongoing nurses’ strike in Homa Bay County has paralyzed the provision of health care services to the residents for the last three weeks.
Speaking to KNA, County Executive Committee Member (CECM) in charge of health Professor Richard Muga said that they were assuming that the nurses who have not yet resumed their duties as directed by President Uhuru Kenyatta had relinquished their positions.
Muga said that he had mandated County Public Service Board to advertise the vacancies of nurses who were on strike adding that he wanted the exercise to be accomplished in the next three weeks.
The medic further called on all qualified nurses to apply for the job opportunities, saying they would work on contract and would be given adequate security.
Muga revealed that the county PSB was working on show cause letters to nurses to explain why their contract should not be terminated over their participation in an illegal strike.
He regretted that the standoff had continued even after Governor Cyprian Awiti held a meeting with KNUN Homa Bay branch officials and agreed to call off their strike and resume duties by Friday last week.
The CEC further underscored that the striking nurses would not be paid their salaries during the period they were on strike.
He reiterated that the county government would provide security to nurses who would resume work as agreed by the Governor and Union officials in their meetings, adding that he would not hold any meeting/discussion with the Union officials concerning their strike.
By Martin Shikuku / Davis Langat