Nurses in Kakamega will not take part in the nationwide strike scheduled to take place on Monday following fruitful negotiations with the county government that has agreed to address the union’s grievances.
Speaking to the press at the Kakamega General Hospital on Friday, Nurses Union Kakamega Branch Secretary Eliud Molenje praised Governor Fernandes Barasa for his quick intervention, which will see patients continue to get medical services as further negotiations go on.
“Each county has its own unique challenges. Branch officials and the executives sat down, engaged, and agreed on several issues. We decided to suspend the strike with the blessings from the national office,” he said.
Molenje said the county government has agreed to pay in full the salaries withheld for the two months of December 2020 and January 2021 to all nurses who missed their salaries following an industrial action, which will be paid in full by 31st January 2025.
“The branch office of the union has agreed with the county government to initiate the resumption of Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) negotiations with the County Public Service Board (CPSB) as of 14th February 2025,” he added.
Molenje also noted that the CPSB has agreed to initiate suitability interviews for promotions and re-designations starting next week.
“The County government has procured a comprehensive medical scheme for all nurses that will be offered by the Jubilee Insurance,” he added.
He noted that the county government has released the remittances for statutory deductions to nurses up to November 2024 as it waits for the December disbursement from the Exchequer.
“On addressing staff shortages, 37 nurses were recruited in December 2024, and 84 positions were also advertised awaiting shortlisting for interviews. The County government has also committed to engage with the National Treasury on lifting the ban to honour the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) salary structure of the 2024 phase 2 implementation,” he explained.
He also said that the county government has committed to absorbing Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Nurses this year, during the replacement of staff who have exited service.
“Having informed the national office about these new developments, we, the Kakamega County branch officials, call upon our nurses not to participate in the Monday nationwide nurses’ strike and instead continue to serve the people,” he noted.
The KNUN National Chief Trustee, Henry Adolan, appreciated the commitment that the county government of Kakamega has shown to the union.
“They have agreed on 10 issues that were making us go on strike, and we believe that these things are going to be done. We have agreed that within the next 28 days we shall be having all our issues resolved,” he noted.
“So we are calling upon all other county governments that, wherever you are, we are committed to dialogue. If there is any dialogue, we are ready to come and discuss it with you, but if there is no dialogue, definitely we shall go the other way,” he noted.
The County Secretary, Dr. Lawrence Omuhaka, thanked the nurses’ union for agreeing to suspend the strike following negotiation with the county government, assuring the union that all the issues they have raised will be addressed.
By Albert Muteshi and Gloria Asacha
