The Mountain Journal
The nurses’ strike in Laikipia entered its third day after the negotiation between the striking nurses and county government failed to yield fruit.
Nurses and midwives represented by Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN) downed their tools on Monday, and initiated a strike over the county government’s failure to honor a 16-point return-to-work formula, causing immediate disruption to public health services.
Patients in major health facilities across the county, including Ndindika Hospital, Rumuruti Hospital, Nyahururu Hospital, Nanyuki Teaching and Referral Hospital, Kimanju Hospital, Lamuria Hospital, and Doldol Hospital, failed to get treatment, with a few turning to private facilities.
The union officials, led by their Chairman Peter Ndimba, and Daniel Mungai, the Branch Secretary, said their key grievances include delayed promotions, staff shortages, and unresolved salary arrears.
The Nurses’ Union is protesting the failure by the County Government to implement a previous Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).
Specific issues include: failure to honour a previously negotiated return-to-work formula; delayed promotions and confirmations for staff; staff shortages and a lack of essential tools; issues with medical cover and unpaid salary arrears; failure to implement the 17-tier grading structure; denials of leave and course approvals.
The Nurses staged peaceful demonstrations in Nyahururu, chanting anti-government slogans and waving placards.
The strike has adversely affected Health services in public facilities across Laikipia County, which will remain paralyzed until the issues are resolved.
The officials told reporters that they would not return to duty until their grievances were fully addressed.
The union has faulted county officials led by Governor Joshua Irungu, County Secretary, Wahome Koinange, and Chairman of the County Public Service Board, Mr. Macharia Gakiri, for failing to resolve these issues.
As the controversy escalates, Laikipia Health CEC Dr. Albert Taiti said the county administration was implementing some of the recommendations, albeit slowly, due to financial challenges.
“Some health workers have been issued with confirmation letters of service on a permanent and pensionable basis, and hence, it was just a matter of time before Human Resources finalises the issuance of letters,” said Taiti.
The paralysis of services in these key institutions clearly reflects the gravity of the situation and the high cost it is imposing on the public.
