Nurses in homabay set to strike

Nurses in Homa Bay County have vowed to go on strike in solidarity with their colleagues who were suspended from work in September 2018.
Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN) officials in the county said 90 nurses were unlawfully suspended from work by the county government.
“We will push for the rights of our colleagues by downing our tools irrespective of the outcome of the return to work formula for the national strike,” the officials said.
The officials said although the suspended workers obtained court orders allowing them to continue working as their matter was being heard, they have never been paid.
KNUN Branch Secretary George Bola and Chairman Samuel Ogallo told KNA that the affected nurses have been on duty.
Mr. Bola stressed that their strike will be based on suspension of their colleagues, delayed pay and grievances agreed upon on the return to work formula.
This portends a prolonged strike for the county even if the government settles their allowance demands including annual Sh 5000 uniform allowance and monthly Sh 3000 nursing service.
The union officials told their members to stand in solidarity and not to resume work until the 90 suspended heath workers were paid their five months’ salary arrears.
“Our members were suspended from duty irregularly. No nurse will work from tomorrow until the day the affected members are paid all their money. The national strike was just a coincidence, we had already planned our strike for our colleagues to get their rights,” said Mr Bola.
The Nurses also accused the county government of delaying their salaries.
The officials said they have engaged their national heads over numerous grievances facing heath workers in the county.
Mr. Bola said KNUN Secretary General Seth Panyako gave them a go ahead to proceed with the strike.
Contacted, County Health Chief Officer Jenipher Ndege refuted the claims saying that all the suspended nurses were reinstated and their salaries paid.
The Chief Officer added that delay of salaries is beyond their control.
She said the county government receives delayed funds from the national treasury.
KNUN County Trustee Lillian Ogutu advised patients seeking medical services from public health facilities to look for medical care from private hospitals.
By Davis Langat